NA's defence committee gives unanimous approval to amendment bills related to services chiefs' tenure

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence unanimously approved on Monday three amendment bills pertaining to the tenure of the serving chiefs of the armed forces.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence had been summoned again today to discuss amendments to the Army Act, Air Force Act, and Navy Act. 

The committee had to reconvene just three days after it initially 'approved' the three bills aimed at regularising the tenure of the services chiefs.

The committee had to be summoned again after it was established that the rules and regulations of parliament were violated in the January 3 session of the committee. 

While speaking to media, Khattak confirmed the passage of the bills today, saying: “The bills have been passed. Congratulations to the nation. Everyone, including the government and opposition showed unity.”

While responding to a question regarding any amendments to the bills suggested by the opposition, he said that they have been discussed.

He added that the bills will now be presented for voting in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

After that the National Assembly's approval, the bills will be approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Defence before bills are passed by the Senate.

The bills would become acts of Parliament once signed by the president.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem gave his statement, saying that all the political parties including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party have approved the amendment bills.

Bilawal Bhutto says amendments bills not shared

PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto claimed that his party wasn’t shown the newly-approved amendments in the Army Act Rules and Regulations.

He said that the amendments in the Army Act should be shared with the opposition.

He said that the PPP has proposed amendments and will ask the opposition to support them. “The government is rushing into this bill,” he said, adding that it is feared that it may lead to lacunae in the future. 

Violation of procedures

Sources said that parliamentary secretary Capt Jamil Ahmed had presided over the earlier session of the committee, which was against parliamentary procedures.

Also read: Defence standing committee to meet again to discuss amendment bills

Sources further said that Ahmed had not called for a vote when the time came to approve the bills, violating the rules and regulations of the lower house. 

Hence, Amjad Khan Niazi was asked to chair the session of the standing committee when it met today to discuss the amendment bills and approve them by a vote.

In the previous meeting, members of the upper house had also been called to discuss the bills. However, the senators were not asked to attend the Monday meeting, reports suggested. 

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have publicly given their assent to the amendment bills. The PML-N had announced it would support the bill 'unconditionally' while the PPP had called for the 'democratic legislative process' to be followed.

Also read: NA to vote on bill formalising services chiefs' tenure

Changes sought in law

The proposed amendments set the maximum age limit of the three services chiefs — chief of army staff, chief of air staff and chief of naval staff — at 64 years. If the bills get passed, the prime minister will have the power to extend the tenure of any service chief and the president will give his final nod to the extension or reappointment. 

Under clause 8B of Army Act Amendment Bill, the president, on the advice of the prime minister, may “reappoint the Chief of the Army Staff for an additional tenure of 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”.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law, or any order or judgement 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,” the bill states.

Also read: ECP issues list of lawmakers failing to disclose asset details

SC directs govt to legislate on COAS tenure

Back in November, the apex court had asked the government to legislate on an extension in the COAS's services within six months, allowing General Bajwa to stay in office until then. 

Prior to that, PM Imran in August had approved the extension in the COAS's services through an executive order. Former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa had in late November taken up a petition challenging the extension in service of the COAS, deeming it 'in the public interest'. 

The court had subsequently suspended the notification of the extension in Gen Bajwa's tenure.

Last month, after the top court issued the detailed verdict in the case, the government had filed a review petition in the SC, pleading the court to form a larger bench to hear the case, and requesting it to keep the proceedings in-camera.

Side by side, it had launched the formalities to formulate a bill formalising the rules governing the army chief's extension and have it passed through parliament.