ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the National Assembly passed a bill extending the tenure of all services chiefs from three to five years, despite protests from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 1952, which received majority support. With this new legislation, the tenures of the army chief, naval chief, and air chief will now be five years.
The amendment aims to align the Pakistan Army Act, 1952; the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961; and the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 with the new maximum tenure for the Chief of the Army Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff. It also includes necessary changes for consistency across these laws.
According to the amendment, the retirement age and service limits for a General, as specified under the Act’s rules and regulations, will not apply to the Chief of the Army Staff during their appointment, reappointment, or extension. Throughout this period, the Chief of the Army Staff will continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.
Additionally, the assembly passed another bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2024, which also garnered majority approval.
During the session, PTI lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker’s rostrum, tore copies of the bill, and chanted slogans in protest
