Pakistan's National Assembly on Monday amended relevant laws to increase the tenure of armed services chiefs, including the Army Chief, from three years to five years. During this time there was a lot of uproar in the Parliament. The number of Supreme Court judges has been doubled amid opposition from jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act Amendment, 2024 to make several changes in the rules relating to the length of service of Army, Air Force and Navy chiefs as amendments to the Army, Air Force and Navy Acts. Done, so that the tenure of service chiefs can be extended.
According to the Army Act Amendment Bill, 1952, the rules of retirement of generals in Pakistan Army will not apply to the Army Chief. Apart from this, the House also approved the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill, 1961 with majority.
The purpose of these amendments is to harmonize the Pakistan Army Act, 1952…Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961…and the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953…with the maximum tenure of the Chief of the Army, Chief of the Navy and Chief of the Air Force and to make consequential amendments for uniformity in the above mentioned laws Is.
The proposed bill to amend the Army Act, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2024, aims to increase the tenure of the Army Chief from three to five years.
The Bill stated that in the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), for the word 'three (03)', the words 'five (05)' shall be substituted. Similarly, the Bill aims to increase the period for re-appointment of a service chief or extend his tenure to five years instead of three.
The Bill states that in Section 8B of the said Act, in place of the expression 'three (03)' occurring twice in sub-section (1)-10, the expression 'five (05)' will be substituted. In the Amendment Bill, a substitution has been made in Section 8C by removing the age limit of 64 years.
The proposed amendment is as follows: The retirement age and service limits prescribed for a General under the rules and regulations made under this Act shall not apply to the Chief of Army Staff during the tenure of his appointment, reappointment and/or extension. Throughout such tenure, the Army Chief shall continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar introduced another important bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34.
Tarar said, with this amendment, the number of judges in the Supreme Court will increase to 34, so that the pending cases can be disposed of and after the 26th amendment, we can get judges to form a constitutional bench.
Soon after the Law Minister introduced the Bill in the Assembly and concluded his speech, the Bill was put to vote despite opposition's opposition. Additionally, the Law Minister introduced the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024, which states that the number of judges in the High Court will be increased from nine to 12.
After the bill was passed, the Speaker adjourned the meeting of the National Assembly till 11 am on Tuesday.
The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested against the bills in the House and raised slogans throughout the session, while party chief Gauhar Ali Khan, speaking outside Parliament, condemned the passage of the bills.
The extension in the tenure of commanders, including Army chief General Asim Munir, is another blow to embattled Imran Khan and his party, who blame the army for their downfall.
The move, taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, is aimed at garnering support from powerful military figures. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif introduced the bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and House Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced the passage of the bill.
Geo TV reported that it took 16 minutes for Parliament to pass this amendment bill. Imran Khan's party MP Omar Ayub said that this is neither good for the country nor for the people of the armed forces. There is no harm in ending the tenure of any service chief.
Under the new law, General Munir, who took charge in November 2022 and was due to retire in 2025, will now remain in office till 2027 despite the normal retirement age being 64 years, with the new deadline.
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