ISLAMABAD: National Assembly and Senate passed bill to extend tenure of all services chiefs from three to five years amid protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

National Assembly and Senate also passed bill to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34 amid protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2024 to raise number of SC judges in both houses separately within span of two hours.

Upper and lower houses passed bill with majority of votes.  National Assembly and Senate also passed another bill to increase the number of Islamabad High Court judges from nine to 12. Azam Nazeer Tarar said that amendment would raise number of judges in Supreme Court to 34, so that backlog of cases may be cleared.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 1952 which was passed with majority of votes in upper and lower houses. After enactment of law, tenure of Army Chief, Naval Chief and Air Chief would be extended to five years.

“Purpose of these amendments are to make consistent Pakistan Army Act, 1952, Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961 and Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 with maximum tenure of Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff and to make consequential amendments for uniformity in aforementioned laws,” amendment read.

“Retirement age and service limits prescribed for General, under Rules and Regulations made under this Act, shall not be applicable to Chief of Army Staff, during his tenure of appointment, reappointment and/or extension. Throughout such tenure, Chief of Army Staff shall continue to serve as General in Pakistan Army,” amendment copy read.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 05 2024

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