Parliament adopts bills to extend tenure of services chiefs, increase number of SC & IHC judges

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly and Senate on Monday approved important bills to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from seventeen to thirty-four, Islamabad High Court judges from nine to twelve and tenure of services chiefs from three year to five year.

Clause by clause, the NA and Senate approved the Army Act, Pakistan Air Force Act and Pak Navy Act 2024 Amendment Bills, which had been tabled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in both houses of Parliament . to extend the tenure of all Services Chiefs.

“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,” stated the bill.

“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,” added the bill.

After the enactment of the law, the tenure of army chief, naval chief and the air chief would be extended to five years.

Earlier in the National Assembly, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented ‘The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill 2024 which was passed with majority of votes.

The number of judges of the Supreme Court will be 34. Moreover, the lower house also passed an act to increase the number of judges of the Islamabad High Court from nine to twelve amid pandemonium of the opposition.  Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill 2024 has also been adopted.

The PTI lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker rostrum, tore apart copies of the bill and chanted slogans.

The National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq adjourned the house session till 1 pm on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Follwing the passage of the bills in the lower house, the Senate also approved six crucial bills including the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2024 as passed by the National Assembly, amid the opposition uproar.
The bills included the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved a motion to suspend the House business and take up the supplementary agenda which was adopted by the House.
The three initial bills related to Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court were piloted by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar in the House while the remaining three bills pertaining to Army, Navy and Air Force were moved by Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
The House passed all the bills through clause-by-clause readings.
The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aimed at increasing number of SC judges to 34 which would help tackle the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court.
Similarly, under the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the number of judges in the Islamabad High Court has also been increased from nine to twelve.
Furthermore, the Senate also passed amendments to the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act Amendment Bills 2024 to enhance the tenures of service chiefs.
In the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), for the expression “three (03)” the word “five (05)” shall be substituted,” says the bill. Sub-section 1 of Section 8A states that “the President shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint a General as the Chief of the Army Staff, for a tenure of three (03) years,” read the bill.
Similarly, the proposed bill aimed to increase the length of time the service chief can be reappointed or have their tenure extended to five years, instead of three as outlined in Section 8B.
Section 8B of the Army Act reads as follows: “The President, on the advice of the Prime Minister, may reappoint the Chief of the Army Staff for additional tenure of three (03) years, or extend the tenure(s) of the Chief of the Army Staff up to three (03) years, on such terms and conditions, as may be determined by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, in the national security interest or exigencies, from time to time.”
“In the said Act, in section 8B, in sub-section (1)- 10 for the expression “three (03)”, occurring twice, the expression “five (05)” shall be substituted,” the 2024 bill read.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, “The purpose of these amendments is 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.”
Later, the Presiding Officer prorogued the Senate session sine die after conclusion of the business. The Chair read the prorogation order signed by the President.