'Commander of Defence Forces' title on the cards as part of key reforms

• Amendment aims unified command across three armed services.
• Move inspired by lessons drawn from recent India war scenario.
• Constitutional Court to comprise 7 judges, retirement at 68 years.
  

ISLAMABAD: The introduction of a new designation named “Commander of Defence Forces” (CDF) is under consideration in the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment as part of key defence reforms, The News reported citing sources on Friday..

The new title is being considered under the proposed amendment to Article 243, aimed at ensuring greater coordination and unified command among the three armed services.

The move is said to have been inspired by lessons drawn from recent Pakistan-India war scenarios and the evolving nature of modern warfare that demands an integrated operational response.

Although the official draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has not surfaced, its main points have come to light, including the proposal to tweak Article 243.

Article 243 states that "The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces" and "the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President", among other things.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently said that consultations were underway for amendments to the law that governs armed forces.

"Consultations on amending Article 243 are ongoing [...] defence requirements have changed," the minister told Geo News on November 5.

"This entire process will be carried out through mutual consultation," said the defence minister, whose party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), attempts to amend the Constitution for the second time during its ongoing tenure.

The Pakistan Peoples Party, which rejected most of the proposed amendment of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, has also hinted at tendering conditional support to amend Article 243 of the Constitution.

Addressing a presser after an hours-long Central Executive Committee (CEC) late on Thursday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party authorised him to extend conditional support to the federal government's proposal to amend Article 243, according to The News.

He said the proposed changes included giving a new title to the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, creating a new office regarding Strategic Forces Command, and conferring the rank of Field Marshal upon the incumbent army chief following Pakistan's declared military victory against India earlier this year.

The PPP, however, rejected the proposed changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award formula.

According to the sources privy to the development, the government has also decided to establish a Constitutional Court under the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, initially comprising seven judges, in what official sources describe as a major step toward reforming the country's judicial structure.

As per the proposed plan, the retirement age of judges of the Constitutional Court will be 68 years, three years higher than that of the Supreme Court judges, who currently retire at 65.

Justice Aminuddin Khan is likely to be appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

27th Constitutional Amendment

The government's efforts to amend the law came to light on November 3, when the PPP chairman revealed that the ruling party had sought their support in introducing the amendment.

Later the same day, the government also confirmed that it intends to table the 27th Constitutional Amendment in parliament, but only after completing consultations with coalition partners.

The official draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has not been made public, However, Bilawal revealed its main points earlier this week.

Besides Constitutional Court and armed forces laws, other proposals include appointing executive magistrates, transferring judges, removing protection for the provincial share in the NFC Award, returning education and population planning to the federation, and appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan.