On Tuesday, both houses of Pakistan’s parliament passed a significant bill amending the laws governing the country’s armed forces, allowing for the extension of service chiefs’ tenures up to five years.
The bill to amend the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act Amendment, 2024, was presented in both houses by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The amendments specify that the retirement age and service limits for senior military officers will not apply to the heads of the army, navy, and air force during their tenure, reappointment, or extension. The bill also includes changes to the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill, 1961.
Key changes in the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, include amendments to Section 8A and Section 8B, increasing the maximum tenure from three to five years. Additionally, the proposed amendment to Section 8C states that the retirement age of 64 years and service limits for a General will not apply to the Chief of the Army Staff during their tenure.
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”.
“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,” it stated.
Furthermore, the government also proposed an amendment to Section 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 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.”
Following the passage of the bills, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq adjourned the session until 11 a.m. the following day.
