Constitutional Amendment Bill | Pakistan

The government presented the much anticipated draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate on Saturday afternoon. The far-reaching legislative proposal, among other changes, rewrites Article 243 of the Constitution, creating the post of Chief of Defence Forces and abolishing the long-standing office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). It also vests broader, constitutionally protected powers and privileges in the country’s top military leadership. Article 243 governs the relationship between the prime minister (as head of the federal government) and the president (as the head of state) in relation to the control and command of the armed forces. Key changes proposed to Article 243: Army chief to be recognised as Chief of Defence Forces, positioned at top of Pakistan’s armed services Office of CJCSC to be abolished Establishing a Commander of National Strategic Command position President to appoint army, naval, air chiefs on advice of premier Life-long constitutional ...