On Monday, Pakistan’s National Assembly passed amendments to extend the tenures of the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force from three to five years, with the Senate following suit later that day. The bills now await final approval from President Asif Ali Zardari.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were approved by a majority vote despite significant opposition protests. The new legislation grants the president authority, on the prime minister’s advice, to appoint, reappoint, or extend the terms of military chiefs up to five years. Previously set age limits for these roles have also been removed, allowing chiefs to serve beyond 64 years in cases of national security or critical need.
In addition to military tenure extensions, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill 2024, proposing an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34. He also presented the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024 to expand High Court judges from nine to 12. Both bills were passed by the House amid heated opposition.
Tarar explained that these judicial reforms aim to reduce case backlogs, address demands from various bar associations, and enable the formation of constitutional benches to handle complex cases. The amendments to the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023, will permit these new benches to address constitutional matters, with a senior administrative committee assigning cases accordingly.
Despite loud protests, opposition members voiced objections by chanting slogans, tearing bill copies, and surrounding the Speaker’s dais. Some members engaged in brief scuffles during the session.
These legislative actions highlight the government’s push toward judicial reforms and standardizing military leadership terms to ensure continuity and address long-standing institutional demands.
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