Pakistan's National Assembly on Monday amended relevant laws to extend the term of the armed services chiefs, including the army chief, from three to five years, amid uproar in Parliament. The number of Supreme Court judges has been doubled amid protests from jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif introduced the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act (Amendment), 2024 to make several changes in the rules relating to the term of service of army, air and navy chiefs as an amendment to the Army, Air Force and Navy Acts to extend the tenure of service chiefs.

According to the Army Act Amendment Bill, 1952, the rules for retirement of generals in the Pakistan Army will not apply to the Army Chief. Apart from this, the House also approved the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Amendment Bill, 1961 by majority.

The objective of these amendments is to bring the maximum tenure of the Army Chief, Navy Chief and Air Force Chief into line with the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 … Pakistan Navy Ordinance, 1961 … and the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 … and to make consequential amendments for uniformity in the above laws.

The proposed bill to amend the Army Act, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2024, aims to increase the tenure of the army chief from three to five years.

The Bill states that in the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), the words 'five (5)' shall be substituted for the words 'three (3)'. Similarly, the Bill aims to increase the period for reappointment or extension of tenure of the Service Chief to five years instead of three.

The Bill states that in section 8B of the said Act, the expression 'three (03)' occurring twice in sub-sections (1)-10 shall be substituted by the expression 'five (05)'. The amendment bill has replaced section 8C by removing the age limit of 64 years.

The proposed amendment is as follows: The retirement age and service limits prescribed for a General under the rules and regulations made under this Act shall not apply to the Army Chief during the tenure of his appointment, reappointment and/or extension. During the entire tenure of such tenure, the Army Chief shall continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar introduced another important bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34.

Tarar said, this amendment will increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court to 34 so that pending cases can be settled and we can get judges to form constitutional benches after the 26th amendment.

Soon after the law minister introduced the bill in the assembly and finished his speech, the bill was put to vote despite opposition protests. Additionally, the law minister introduced the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024, which states that the number of judges in the high court will be increased from nine to 12.

After the bill was passed, the Speaker adjourned the National Assembly till 11 am on Tuesday.

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested against the bills in the House and raised slogans throughout the session, while party chief Gauhar Ali Khan, speaking outside Parliament, condemned the passage of the bills.

The extension of the tenure of the commanders, including Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, is another blow to the embattled Imran Khan and his party, as they blame the military for their downfall.

The move by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government is aimed at garnering support from powerful military figures. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif introduced a bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and House Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced the bill's passage.

Geo TV reported that it took 16 minutes for the parliament to pass the amendment bill. Imran Khan's party MP Umar Ayub said that this is neither good for the country nor for the people of the armed forces. There is no harm in ending the tenure of any service chief.

Under the new law, General Munir, who took office in November 2022 and was due to retire in 2025, will remain in office until 2027, despite the new deadline now being 64, the normal retirement age.