Islamabad: The Senate has passed a bill amending the laws governing all three branches of Pakistan’s armed forces, shortly after it received approval from the National Assembly. This legislation, presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, extends the fixed tenure of service chiefs to a maximum of five years.
The Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act Amendment, 2024, aims to harmonize the Pakistan Army Act of 1952, the Pakistan Navy Ordinance of 1961, and the Pakistan Air Force Act of 1953 regarding the tenure of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), and Chief of Air Staff (CAS). As stated in the bill, the amendments are designed to ensure consistency across these laws.
Key provisions of the legislation specify that the retirement age and service limits applicable to senior military officers will not be enforced for the heads of the armed forces during their tenure, including any reappointments or extensions. This means that the criteria set for other senior military roles will not apply to the service chiefs.
The bill includes specific changes to Section 8A and Section 8B of the Pakistan Army Act, replacing references to a three-year tenure with five years, thereby allowing for longer terms for military leadership.
