Constitution 1973 § Article 243 — Command of Armed Forces

Statutory text (English)

(1) The Federal Government shall have control and
command of the Armed Forces.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Supreme Command of
the Armed Forces shall vest in the President.

(3) The President shall subject to law, have power—
(a) to raise and maintain the Military, Naval and Air Forces of Pakistan; and the
Reserves of such Forces; and
(b) to grant Commissions in such Forces.
2[
(4) The President shall, on advice of the Prime Minister, appoint—
(a) the Chief of the Army Staff concurrently the Chief of the Defense Forces;
(b) the Chief of the Naval Staff; and
(c) the Chief of the Air Staff;
and shall also determine their salaries and allowances.]
2[
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause

(4), the office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs
of Staff Committee shall stand abolished with effect from the twenty-seventh day of November two
thousand and twenty-five.

(6) The Prime Minister shall, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Army Staff
concurrently the Chief of the Defense Forces, appoint the Commander of the National Strategic
Command from the members of Pakistan Army and shall also determine his salary and allowances.

(7) Where the Federal Government promotes a member of the Armed Forces to the rank of
Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force or Admiral of the Fleet, such officer shall retain the rank,
privileges and remain in uniform for life.

(8) Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet, being national heroes,
shall not be removed from office except on the ground or charges and in the manner provided under
Article 47.

(9) The provisions of Article 248, as applicable to the President, shall mutatis mutandis apply
to Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet.

(10) Upon completion of the term of his command, under the law, the Federal Government
shall determine the responsibilities and duties of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force or Admiral
of the Fleet in the interest of State.

(11) The President shall, on advice of the Prime Minister, determine the salary, allowances and
privileges of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet.]]

Source and verification

Source citation: Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Art. 243: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN' (incl. 26th Amdt Act 2024 & 27th Amdt Act 2025), p. 123, 124, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 123, 124) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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