On Tuesday, both houses of Pakistan’s parliament approved a bill that changes laws affecting the army, navy, and air force. The new law allows the leaders of these services to serve for up to five years.
The bill, introduced by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, aims to align the regulations of the Pakistan Army Act, the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, and the Pakistan Air Force Act with this new five-year tenure for their chiefs.
The bill states that the usual retirement age and service limits for high-ranking military officers will not apply to the heads of these services during their time in these roles, including when they are reappointed or have their tenures extended.
In addition, parliament also agreed to update the Pakistan Air Force Act and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill.
One change in the Pakistan Army Act is to replace the previous three-year term with a five-year term for service chiefs. Another proposed change addresses the retirement age of 64, stating it won’t apply to the Chief of the Army Staff during their tenure, allowing them to keep serving as a General.
After the bills were passed, the session was adjourned until the next morning.
In a discussion on a news program, Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister, said that the tenure of army chiefs has effectively been shortened compared to previous terms, which could last between six to eleven years. He encouraged the opposition to bring forward their suggestions for amendments.
On the other side, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen claimed the opposition was caught off guard by the bill, suggesting it was introduced suddenly without their knowledge. He also noted that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had previously called the extension of the army chief’s tenure a mistake.
