Islamabad [Pakistan], Jan 03 : Just in order to give three-year extension to his favourite .Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and to avoid sword of the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Imran Khan hurriedly called an urgent meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday and got approval of proposed amendments to the Constitution and the Army Act.
If the Parliament passes the proposed amendments, the prime minister would have a power to extend the tenure of all three defence chiefs for up to three years and at his advice, the president will issue a formal notification.
The cabinet meeting approved the proposed three-year extension in the tenure of the army chief, indicating that Gen Bajwa would continue to serve as the COAS till 2023.
The apex court last month in a detailed verdict issued direction to the government to remove all ambiguities and frame a law to clear the pave of giving extension to Army chief if it insists. The Cabinet also decided to introduce an amendment bill in the parliament on Friday after building a consensus with the opposition on the matter. In this regard, It will share the draft with the opposition on Thursday.
According to an amendment, the maximum age limit for an army chief will be 64 years and this will be applied in case of extension in his term, but the regular age limit of COAS will be 60 years.
Now it would be the prime minister’s prerogative whether to give an extension to the army chief in future. The Army Act’s amendments will also be applicable to the chairman of joint chiefs and the other two services chiefs.
Reportedly, the draft bill recommends raising the retirement age of the services chiefs to 64, while the president may extend their term by three years on the advice of the prime minister.
Imran Khan seeks power to extend tenure of Bajwa
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