An investigative journalist associated with Azaad Digital, Hammad Hassan, was the first one to break the news regarding the extension in the tenures of Service Chiefs including Army Chief General Asim Munir.
In a tweet, he said, “It has just been decided that the tenure of the COAS will be increased from 3 years to 5 years.”
ازاد ڈیجیٹل سے منسلک تحقیقاتی صحافی حماد حسن نے اج 4 بجے ہی یہ خبر سب سے پہلے بریک کر دی تھی کہ سروسز چیف کی مدت م ملازمت 3 سال سے بڑھا کر 5 سال کی جا رہی ہے – https://t.co/3khLFfDxcs
— Azaad Urdu (@azaad_urdu) November 4, 2024
Later in the day, the announcement was made official.
Extension in the tenures
On Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tabled three bills seeking amendment in the Pakistan Army Act 1952, Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961, and Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 — extending the fixed tenure of service chiefs from three to five years.
The bill — a copy of which is available with Azaad English — stated, “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.”
Talking with journalists outside the Parliament House, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said, they have no objection to the bill sailed to the lower house.
