ISLAMABAD: Both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to amend laws affecting the three branches of the armed forces, seeking to extend the tenure of service chiefs up to five years.

The Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Amendment Bill, 2024, was introduced in both Houses by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif.

“The purpose of these amendments is to make the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961 and the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 consistent with the maximum term of office of the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff and to make consequential amendments to ensure uniformity in the aforesaid laws,” says the bill – a copy of which is available from Geo News.

On the retirement age and service limits of service chiefs, including COAS, CNS and CAS, the document said the criteria prescribed for senior military officers “shall not be applicable” to chiefs of the army, navy and air force during their “mandate”. appointment, renewal and/or extension”.

Apart from this, both Houses of Parliament also passed the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill, 1961.

The Bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 stated: “In the said Act, in section 8A, sub-section (1), in the expression “three (03)”, the word “five (05)” will be replaced. .”

Similarly, the Bill seeks to increase the period for which the head of service can be reappointed or have his term extended to five years, thereby amending section 8B of the Act.

“In the said law, in article 8B, in paragraph (1)-10, in the expression ‘three (03)’, appearing twice, the expression ‘five (05)’ will be replaced”, specifies t -on.

Besides, the government has also proposed an amendment to Article 8C, which deals with the retirement age, which is 64 years, and service limits of service chiefs.

The proposed amendment reads: “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 head of state- major of the army, during his term of appointment, reappointment and/or extension. . Throughout his tenure, the Chief of Army Staff will continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.

Following the passage of the bills, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq adjourned the session until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

“Its reduction, not its extension”

Speaking to Geo News’ ‘Capital Talk’, Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, said the army chief’s tenure had been “reduced and not extended”.

“In the past, the term of office of army chiefs ranged from 6 to 11 years… Today, the term of office has been shortened,” he said, referring to the tenure of former army chiefs.

In response to a question regarding the work of NA, he said the speaker had asked the opposition to sit and listen and would be given a chance to speak. “They were in no mood to debate in the lower house.”

He added that the opposition should have presented its amendments to the National Assembly today.

Chastising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the talk of ‘Form-45 and Form-47’, Sanaullah said this was the reason why the former ruling party had forgotten that it ‘ had lost the 2018 elections and remained in power for four years.”

Meanwhile, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen, speaking on the same show, claimed that the opposition was “not aware” of the bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act. “They abruptly took the bill out of their pockets and tabled it.”

“PTI founder Imran Khan admitted that the extension was a mistake,” he added.