ISLAMABAD, 20 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Defence Forces Act 2026 along with amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010, hours after the federal cabinet approved the proposed legislation. The two bills were presented before the lower house and passed by a majority amid an opposition walkout during the proceedings. The legislation marks a significant development in Pakistan’s defence-related legal framework, particularly as the government has linked the Defence Forces Act 2026 to legal changes introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, approved the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 and proposed amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010. According to the government, the Defence Forces Act 2026 has been prepared as part of the legal measures required following the 27th Constitutional Amendment. After receiving cabinet approval, the proposed legislation was presented in the National Assembly, where both measures were approved by a majority. Opposition lawmakers, however, staged a walkout during the proceedings.The National Command Authority plays a central role in Pakistan’s strategic command structure, while legislation governing the country’s defence forces carries significant institutional and national security implications.