{
  "id": 2128990,
  "title": "NA passes bills related to military, nuclear command structure as Bilawal objects, opposition walks out",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/na-passes-bills-related-to-military-nuclear-command-structure-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T12:05:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2024124/na-passes-bills-related-to-military-nuclear-command-structure-as-bilawal-objects-opposition-walks-out"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Thursday, the National Assembly of Pakistan approved two bills concerning the military and nuclear command structure amidst opposition walkouts and objections from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Defence Forces Act, 2010 and the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010. These bills were not initially on the National Assembly's agenda for that day, but were approved earlier in the day by the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.\n\nPPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari raised objections, stating that no consultation took place before the bills were introduced. The bills were designed to align with the changes made to the Constitution under the 27th Amendment, which abolished the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and established the new post of Chief of Defence Forces, held concurrently by the Chief of Army Staff. The 27th Amendment also created the Commander of the National Strategic Command (CNSC) post, a four-star position overseeing the integration of Pakistan's strategic forces.\n\nSuspensions of proceedings occurred prior to the bills' presentation due to the absence of key officials. NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes for this reason, particularly criticizing the absence of an official from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination. He warned that a privilege motion could be brought against the concerned minister if the officials did not attend in the future. The session was later adjourned until 11 a.m. on Friday.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed two bills pertaining to the military and nuclear command structure in a session that saw the opposition staging a walkout and the PPP — an ally of the ruling PML-N — objecting to the legislation. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the two bills — the Defence Forces Act, 2010 and the amended National Command Authority Act, 2010 — while the…",
  "key_points": [
    "National Assembly passes Defence Forces Act and amended National Command Authority Act",
    "Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari objects, opposition walks out in protest",
    "Amendments align with 27th Constitutional changes creating Chief of Defence Forces and CNSC posts"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "NA passes bills related to military, nuclear command structure as Bilawal objects, opposition walks out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/na-passes-bills-related-to-military-nuclear-command-structure-as-2129135",
        "published": "2026-08-20T12:05:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}