Naveed Ahmad Khan

Islamabad: ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly and the Senate on Monday passed a bill to extend the tenure of all services chiefs from three to five years amid a protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

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

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

“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,” the amendment a copy of which is available with ARY News read.