Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Army Chief General Asim Munir will remain in his position until 2027, following the recent approval of amendments to the Army Act.
Asif emphasized that this legislative change will benefit democratic governments by establishing fixed terms for military leaders and removing the requirement for parliamentary approval for extensions. Speaking with a private television channel, Asif confirmed that General Munir’s tenure as the army chief will continue without interruption until 2027.
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“Previously, many army chiefs received extensions that needed parliamentary approval,” he noted, adding that the new amendment effectively puts an end to this practice.
When questioned about rumors involving a deal concerning the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Asif dismissed the claims, stating, “I’ve only heard it from you.” He then shifted the focus to the importance of self-improvement for Pakistan’s future progress and governance reforms.
Asif refrained from commenting on matters related to Bushra Bibi, the spouse of the PTI founder, saying only, “I have no comment on her whereabouts or activities.”
The amendment to the Army Act aims to enhance continuity and stability in Pakistan’s governance by reducing reliance on ad-hoc tenure extensions for military leadership roles.
In a significant legislative session, the National Assembly approved an amendment that extends the tenures of all armed services chiefs from three to five years. Shortly after, the Senate also approved the same set of bills, sending them to President Asif Ali Zardari for final consent.
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Khawaja Asif presented the amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were passed by a majority vote despite significant opposition protests. The changes align retirement and reappointment regulations across the armed forces, granting the president the authority, based on the prime minister’s advice, to appoint, reappoint, or extend terms for military leaders for up to five years.
The amendments eliminate previous age limits, allowing the Chief of Army Staff and other military leaders to serve beyond the previously set retirement age of 64 years if national security or critical needs arise.
Furthermore, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced proposals to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, which were also approved by the House.
Tarar presented the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill 2024, proposing to raise the number of Supreme Court judges to 34. During the introduction of the bill, the opposition erupted into chaos, protesting and chanting slogans.
Additionally, Tarar introduced the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024, which aims to increase the number of judges in the High Court from nine to twelve.
The proposed changes also amend the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023, to incorporate constitutional benches, thereby expanding the scope and composition of judicial panels.
Proposed additions to Article 191A of the Constitution will enable these benches to address constitutional matters, with an administrative committee of senior judges responsible for assigning cases to either the Supreme Court or constitutional benches.
Despite the disruption, Tarar outlined the bills’ provisions, highlighting the backlog of thousands of pending cases at the Supreme Court’s registry, which necessitates an increase in judicial capacity.
He stressed the importance of additional judges to manage case backlogs and facilitate the establishment of constitutional benches. Various bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), have advocated for this increase to expedite cases in judicial centers across Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, and Lahore.
Following the presentations from the law and defence ministers, the National Assembly proceeded with voting despite ongoing protests from the opposition, ultimately approving the amendments.
During the voting, opposition members disrupted proceedings, chanting slogans, surrounding the Speaker’s dais, and tearing copies of the bills in protest. The situation escalated into physical altercations among some members.
These legislative actions reflect the government’s commitment to judicial reform and the standardization of military leadership tenures, addressing institutional demands and promoting continuity.