In a blow to Imran, Pakistan parliament enacts law hiking services chiefs' term from 3 to 5 years

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed a bill to change the laws pertaining to the three branches of the armed forces, extending the fixed tenure of services chiefs from three years to five years.

Extending the term of the three top commanders — including army chief General Asim Munir who assumed office two years ago — would deal another blow to Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as the jailed former prime minister blames the powerful military for his downfall.

Defence minister Khawaja Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were passed by a majority vote amid intense protests from opposition members.

“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,” stated the bill.

Regarding the retirement age (which is 60 for other military officers) and service limits of the services chiefs, the document read that the criteria prescribed for the senior military officers “shall not be applicable” to the army, navy and air force heads during their “tenure of appointment, reappointment and/or extension”.