The opposition PTI took a strong exception to the passage of the bills in the NA and continued chanting slogans throughout the session; hints at countrywide protests
Mahnoor Ansar
ISLAMABAD: Shortly after receiving the National Assembly’s nod, the Senate on Monday passed the bill seeking amendments to the laws that deal with all three branches of the armed forces, extending the fixed tenure of services chiefs up to five years.
The bill to amend the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act Amendment, 2024, was presented in both houses by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
“The purpose of these amendments are to make consistent the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, The Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961 and The Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 with the maximum tenure of the Chief of the Army Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff and to make consequential amendments for uniformity in the aforementioned laws,” stated the bill — a copy of which is available with Geo News.
“In the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), for the expression “three (03)” the word “five (05)” shall be substituted,” says the bill seeking amendment to Pakistan Army Act, 1952.
Regarding the retirement age and service limits of services chiefs, including COAS, CNS, and CAS, the document read that the criteria prescribed for the senior military officers “shall not be applicable” to the army, navy and air force heads during their “tenure of appointment, reappointment and/or extension”.
Apart from this, the lower house also adopted the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill, 1961.
The proposed bill to amend the Army Act, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2024, aims to extend the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff from three to five years.
“In the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), for the expression ‘three (03)’ the word ‘five (05)’ shall be substituted,” the bill said.
Sub-section 1 of Section 8A states that “the President shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint a General as the Chief of the Army Staff, for a tenure of three (03) years.”
Similarly, the bill aims to increase the length of time the service chief can be reappointed or have their tenure extended to five years, instead of three as outlined in Section 8B.
Section 8B of the Army Act reads as follows: “The President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, may reappoint the Chief of the Army Staff for additional tenure of three (03) years, or extend the tenure(s) of the Chief of the Army Staff up to three (03) years, on such terms and conditions, as may be determined by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, in the national security interest or exigencies, from time to time.”
“In the said Act, in section 8B, in sub-section (1)- 10 for the expression ‘three (03)’, occurring twice, the expression ‘five (05)’ shall be substituted,” the 2024 bill read.
An amendment was also proposed to Section 8C, which deals with the retirement age and service limits of service chiefs.
Section 8C states, “The retirement age and service limits prescribed for a General, under the Rules and Regulations made under this Act, shall not be applicable to the Chief of the Army Staff, during his tenure of appointment, reappointment, or extension, subject to a maximum age of sixty-four (64) years. Throughout such tenure, the Chief of the Army Staff shall continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.”
The amendment bill has made a substitution to Section 8C, removing the 64-year age limit. The proposed amendment reads as follows: “The retirement age and service limits prescribed for a General, under the Rules and Regulations made under this Act, shall not be applicable to the Chief of the Army Staff, during his tenure of appointment, reappointment and/or extension. Throughout such tenure, the Chief of the Army Staff shall continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.”
After passing the bills, the Speaker adjourned the meeting of the National Assembly till 11am tomorrow.
