- Pakistan's National Assembly passed the Defence Forces Act, 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act on Thursday, granting CDF Asim Munir extensive powers over military personnel.
- Under the new act, CDF Munir has the authority to retire, discharge, or retain personnel and to alter prescribed retirement limits.
- The 27th Constitutional Amendment, enacted in November last year, created the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) position and abolished the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
- The Defence Forces Headquarters will serve as the central headquarters of Pakistan's armed forces under CDF Munir.
Pakistan's National Assembly has passed the Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, which significantly enhances the powers of Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir. This legislation allows Munir to hire, fire, and retire personnel within the armed forces, formalizing a new military hierarchy established by the 27th Constitutional Amendment enacted last year.125
The act consolidates command over the Army, Navy, and Air Force under Munir, who also serves as the Army chief. The legislation grants him the authority to retire, release, accept, or reject resignations of military personnel, as well as to alter retirement limits. This marks a significant shift in military governance, as the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee position has been abolished in favor of the CDF role.
The Defence Forces Headquarters will operate under Munir's command, positioning him as the Prime Minister's principal military advisor on national security and defense matters. The Prime Minister's Office described the amendments as a necessary step following the constitutional changes, which aimed to streamline military operations and enhance operational cohesion across services.6
The legislation was passed amid an opposition walkout, highlighting the contentious nature of the reforms. The Defence Forces Act applies retroactively from November 13, 2025, while amendments to the National Command Authority Act take effect from November 27. Both measures were approved on August 20, 2026, following extensive discussions in the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The Defence Forces Act, 2026, applies retrospectively from 13 November 2025, and the NCA amendments from 27 November, with both approved on 20 August. The CDF also serves as the prime minister's principal military advisor, and the first CNSC, Lt. Gen. Aamer Raza, was appointed on 24 July.”
