Web desk: The 27th Constitutional Amendment has been passed, naming Field Marshal Asim Munir as the First Chief of Defence Forces
The Field Marshal has become the First Chief of Defence Forces after the signature of President Zardari on the 27th Amendment Bill.
What is the Chief of Defence Forces?
Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment with a two-thirds majority, following its earlier approval by the Senate.
The amendment introduces changes to both the military and the judiciary.
It creates a new post, the Chief of Defence Forces. This will be held by Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. He will have command over all three branches of the armed forces.
The existing post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished later this month, on November 27, 2025, as per the reports.
The amendment also provides lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution to five-star officers. Including those holding the rank of Field Marshal. This will allow them to retain their status and privileges permanently.
27th Constitutional Amendment
After receiving approval from the Senate, the 27th Constitutional Amendment was passed in the National Assembly, with 234 members voting in favour and 4 against.
All 59 clauses of the amendment were approved by a two-thirds majority, paving the way for its final passage.
Voting was conducted through a division system, with members instructed to go to separate lobbies to cast votes in favour or against the amendment.
The session, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar move the motion for the amendment. After which, clause-wise voting began.
During the session of the National Assembly, chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar moved the motion for the 27th Constitutional Amendment. After this, the clause-wise voting process on the constitutional amendments began.
In the National Assembly, the government presented 8 new amendments to the 27th Constitutional Amendment, amendments to remove four clauses and insert four clauses were presented.
The word Federal Constitutional Court was added to Article 6, Clause 2 of the Constitution, and the word Supreme Court was added to Article 10 of the Constitution.
Article 176 was amended to provide that the current Chief Justice will be called the Chief Justice of Pakistan until the completion of the term.
Article 255, Clause 2, was amended to provide that after the current term, the Chief Justice of Pakistan will be the senior-most Chief Justice of Pakistan among the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court.
