Pakistan to Create a New Military Chief to Control Army, Navy, and Air Force

The federal government is reportedly considering the creation of a new high-ranking military position called “Commander of Defense Forces (CDF)” as part of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.

According to sources, the amendment would revise Article 243 of the Constitution to strengthen coordination and establish a unified command structure among Pakistan’s Army, Navy, and Air Force. The proposed role of CDF would oversee the integrated operations of all three branches.

Officials say the idea stems from lessons drawn from recent conflict simulations with India and the rapidly changing nature of modern warfare, which increasingly demands a coordinated, joint-force response.

Although the full draft of the amendment has not yet been released, the government has confirmed that key reforms to the armed forces’ command system are under review.

Proposed Changes to Article 243

Article 243 currently stipulates that the federal government controls the armed forces, while the President holds the supreme command. The proposed amendment seeks to update this framework to reflect evolving defense needs.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on November 5 that consultations are underway to modernize the legal structure governing the military.

“Discussions on Article 243 are ongoing. Defense requirements have changed, and the process will be completed through mutual consultation,” he said.

This marks the second attempt by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to amend the Constitution during its current tenure.

PPP’s Conditional Support

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while opposing most parts of the proposed 27th Amendment, has indicated conditional support for revising Article 243.

Following a lengthy Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Thursday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told reporters that the party had authorized him to negotiate on the matter.

He said the amendments include renaming the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, establishing a new Strategic Forces Command, and granting the army chief the honorary title of Field Marshal after Pakistan’s claimed military success against India earlier this year.

However, Bilawal clarified that the PPP rejects changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award formula, which determines the provincial share of federal resources.

Creation of a Constitutional Court

Sources further revealed that the government plans to establish a Constitutional Court through the same amendment. The new body would initially have seven judges with a retirement age of 68 years, three years higher than Supreme Court judges, who retire at 65.

Justice Aminuddin Khan is reportedly being considered as the first Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. Officials describe the move as part of a broader effort to restructure Pakistan’s judicial system.

Other Key Proposals Under the 27th Amendment

Additional reforms said to be under discussion include:

• Reintroducing executive magistrates.
• Allowing transfer and rotation of judges between courts.
• Amending education and population planning jurisdiction to return them to the federal domain.
• Revising appointment procedures for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The government has stated that the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill will only be tabled in Parliament after completing consultations with coalition partners.