Former Attorney General Proposes Chief of Defence Staff Role

Former Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali has suggested an amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution to create a Chief of Defence Staff who would oversee all branches of the armed forces. He emphasized that this position would bring better coordination among the military institutions. This proposal comes at a time when the federal government is preparing the 27th Constitutional Amendment, aiming to introduce several major reforms.

During a talk show on Geo News, Ashtar Ausaf also proposed the establishment of a Federal Court in every province. He said that while people often discuss reforms in higher courts, little attention is given to district courts, which need serious improvements. According to him, a provincial and district ombudsman system should also be made more effective to ensure justice at all levels.

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He further suggested that health should be recognized as a fundamental right in the Constitution, adding that in most countries, healthcare is linked with insurance systems. Ausaf highlighted that Pakistan’s Constitution is strong and comprehensive but is often not implemented in its true spirit.

Meanwhile, political leaders reacted to his ideas. PTI’s Barrister Umair Niazi called the proposal practical, suggesting that there could be two parallel Supreme Courts — one for provincial matters and another for federal cases. PPP’s Nadeem Afzal Chan demanded that Parliament should debate the 27th Constitutional Amendment for at least one month, and the discussion should be broadcast live for transparency.

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The government’s upcoming 27th Constitutional Amendment will reportedly cover various issues, including making the Field Marshal rank a constitutional position, creating a single national curriculum, and transferring executive magistrate powers to the district level. The Chief of Defence Staff proposal, as suggested by Ashtar Ausaf, has sparked national debate about the structure and balance of power within Pakistan’s defense system.