NA standing committee approves Army Act Amendment

Standing Committee on Defence in National assembly unanimously approved the amendment bill in the Pakistan Army Act, here on Monday.

According the details, Federal Minister of Defence Pervez Khatak tabled amendment bills for the Pakistan Army Act, Pakistan Navy Act and Pakistan Air Force Act.

The amendment in Pakistan army act is made by following the Supreme Court’s verdict in Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s extension case.

Defence Minister Pervez Khattak tabled The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2020, once it was approved by federal cabinet and came into Parliament which sent it to the standing committee.

The bill, will pave way for the three-year extension for Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa following the Supreme Court’s judgment in the matter, once approved by the parliament and the senate of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Act 2020 and The Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Act 2020 were simultaneously presented in the lower house.

Tehreek-e-Insaf is putting all its efforts to quickly passing of the billn but it face a hurdle when Pakistan PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif advised his party to adhere to parliamentary procedure and not pass the bill in rush. Nawaz had laid down a time-frame for the bill to be considered and voted upon.

What is in the Bill?

The new amendment drafted by the government, states that “the president, on the advice of the prime minister, can specify tenure and terms and conditions of the service of the army, naval and air staff, and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee. This includes the grant of extension and re-appointments of the services chiefs. The amendment also fixes the age of the services chiefs at 64 years”.

Most importantly, the amendment bill ensures that future extensions won’t be challenged before any court on any ground whatsoever.

The amendment bill also states: “Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law, or any order or judgment of any Court, the appointment, reappointment or extension of the Chief of the Army Staff, or the exercise of discretion by the appointing authority in this regard, shall not be called into question before any Court on any ground whatsoever.”

Meanwhile, similar wording has been used if the civilian leadership decides to give an extension to the CJCSC.