Federal cabinet approves drafts of two bills related to military command structure

The federal cabinet approved drafts of two bills aimed at redefining the military command structure on Thursday, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad. The bills under discussion are the Defence Forces Act, 2026, and the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the meeting, reiterated the government's readiness for "meaningful" dialogues with the opposition, extending an invitation during the televised session. He emphasized the government's commitment to constructive dialogue to support Pakistan's economic progress and strengthen democracy, urging the opposition to reciprocate.

The government and the opposition have been at loggerheads since the 2024 elections, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanding a judicial commission to probe violent protests in 2023 and 2024. These protests erupted following Imran Khan's arrest and a subsequent demand for his release. The scope of disagreements has widened, particularly concerning Imran Khan's health.

Despite the tensions, the government has persistently encouraged the opposition to engage in dialogue. PM Shehbaz's latest invitation for talks came just days after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry urged the opposition to agree on a time and venue for negotiations during a Senate session. The opposition's response included discussions with key government officials, such as Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Chaudhry, who met the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate chambers.

Both sides agreed to continue the meetings, with Chaudhry stating that Achakzai had written a letter to the prime minister seeking a "constitutional consultative meeting." The PPP, an ally of the PML-N in the Centre, has reportedly established formal contact with the PTI amid internal disagreements within the ruling coalition over the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections.

The prime minister also announced a reduction in diesel prices by around Rs32 per litre, attributing it to efforts by the petroleum ministry amid disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.