Pakistan SC Extends Army Chief's Tenure

Lawmakers will have to pass legislation on the terms of service of the top general in six months

- Mehmal Sarfraz

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday allowed a conditional extension of the Army chief ’s term for six months, during which Parliament will have to legislate on the terms of service of the top general.

On Tuesday, the court had temporarily suspended a government notification granting a three-year extension to Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. A three-member Bench, comprising Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the case and gave a short order on Thursday.

“...We, while exercising judicial restraint, find it appropriate to leave the matter to Parliament and the federal government to clearly specify the terms and conditions of service of the COAS [Chief of Armed Staff ] through an Act of Parliament and to clarify the scope of Article 243 of the Constitution in this regard,” said the court.

Therefore, the court stated, the current appointment of the Army chief “shall be subject to the said legislation and shall continue for a period of six months from today, whereafter the new legislation shall determine his tenure and other terms and conditions of service”.