ISLAMABAD – The government members will present Army Act Amendment Bill in the National Assembly (NA) for approval today (Friday).

According to details, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have expressed their support to the amendment bill and assured to assist the government in approving it in the assembly.

On Thursday, government delegation headed by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak held meeting with PML-N leaders and sought their support on Army Act amendment bill.

The committee consisting Pervez Khattak, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Senator Azam Swati and Leader of the House in Senate Syed Shibli Faraz arrived at opposition’s chamber and discussed the matter with PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Tanvir and others.

Earlier, Federal Cabinet had approved amendment in Army Act for an extension in the tenure of all military chiefs.

The cabinet meeting proposed a three-year extension in the tenure of all military chiefs – Army, Navy and the Air Force.

The retirement age of three armed forces will be 64 years. The proposed bill stated that the Prime Minister of Pakistan can advise an extension in the tenure of any service chief.

It is pertinent here to mention that the top court had allowed extension/reappointment of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for another six months and asked the government to determine the tenure, terms and conditions of the service of the army chief through legislation within the period.

The court summarised its findings after exploring the scope of Article 243 of the Constitution — which governs the army chief’s appointment, reviewing the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, reviewing the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, the Pakistan Army Act Rules, 1954, and the Army Regulations (Rules).