Pakistan Passes Law to Extend Army Chief's Term to Five Years

Pakistan's parliament has approved an amendment to a law that extends the service term of the heads of the armed forces from three years to five. This decision was made during a heated parliamentary session, which faced opposition from the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The extension of terms for military leaders, including Army Chief General Asim Munir, is seen as a significant setback for Khan and his supporters, who blame the military for his political downfall. The legislation was introduced by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and passed with the backing of the ruling coalition, which formed the government after the February elections.

The amendment to the Pakistan Army Act of 1952 received support from the upper house of parliament, the senate, which also holds a majority from parties opposed to Khan. The session was broadcast live, and reports indicate that the senate took just 16 minutes to approve the amendment, despite objections from Khan's party lawmakers, who argued that the ruling alliance rushed the legislation without proper debate.

Omar Ayub, a lawmaker from Khan's party, criticized the move, calling it detrimental to both the country and the armed forces. Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the extension, suggesting that aligning military tenures with the five-year term of the government could promote stability and consistency in policies.

Under the new law, General Munir, who assumed command in November 2022, will remain in his position until 2027, despite the typical retirement age for generals being 64 years.

Khan, who has been imprisoned since August last year, has consistently clashed with military leaders, particularly after his removal from office when he fell out with then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. Although Khan's party secured the most seats in the February elections, they did not achieve a majority, allowing their opponents to form the government.

Khan's supporters have continued to protest in parliament and on the streets, alleging that the elections were manipulated to exclude them from power, a claim that both the military and the election commission deny. The ruling coalition, in turn, has faced accusations of lacking legitimacy, which the government disputes.

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