27th Amendment draft: Army chief to become Chief of Defence Forces

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The federal government has unveiled the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, proposing sweeping changes to Pakistan’s military and judicial structure.

Central to the amendment is the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Forces, which would replace the long-standing Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), effectively placing the Army Chief at the top of the country’s armed services.

New top military positions

The amendment outlines the abolition of the CJCSC office and introduces the Commander of National Strategic Command, responsible for overseeing Pakistan’s nuclear and strategic assets. The President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, would appoint army, naval, and air chiefs, with the Army Chief serving concurrently as Chief of Defence Forces.

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Life-long constitutional protection would be granted to officers elevated to five-star ranks, including Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet. Such officers would retain their rank, privileges, and uniform for life, removable only via parliamentary procedures akin to impeachment.

Judicial overhaul

The draft also proposes the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court, curbing certain powers of the Supreme Court, including the removal of Article 184, which governs suo motu notices. All provinces would have equal representation, with the Chief Justice serving a three-year term.

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The President and Prime Minister would play a key role in judicial appointments, while Parliament would determine the number of judges. The Federal Constitutional Court’s rulings would be binding on all courts nationwide, redefining the judicial authority balance.

27th Amendment

The proposed amendment has triggered political debate, with opposition parties expressing concern over shifting the balance of power towards the military. The timing of the draft coincides with the extraordinary promotion of Gen Asim Munir to Field Marshal, Pakistan’s second-ever five-star promotion, formalising extraordinary ranks previously conferred. The current CJCSC, Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, will retire on November 27, marking the end of the office.