Govt mulls draft law to increase tenure of four-star generals by one year

The federal government is working on a draft law to increase the tenure of four-star generals by one year, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.

A well placed source in the federal government told Pakistan Today that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid to prepare a draft law proposing amendments in the Pakistan Army Act 1952 allowing one-year increase in the tenures of four-star generals.

This is not the first time that there is speculation about increasing the tenure of senior armed forces officials to four years from the current three. In December last year, Pakistan Today reported that the federal government is offering Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif a three-year extension and that another proposal is under discussion to increase the tenure of senior military officials by one year. Two weeks later, the army chief announced not to accept an extension in his tenure, saying that he ‘does not belief in extension’.

However, the source said it is still not clear if the law will apply to current batch of officers.

“It is yet to be seen if the prime minister wants this one-year increase in term for the incumbents or for the next batch of army leadership,” the source said.

But the amendment which seems motivated by the desire to keep General Raheel Sharif at the helm, as he is leading multiple operations aimed at fighting terrorism and bringing law and order situation in the country under control, is not without complication as General Sharif has said he does not believe in extensions and it is unclear if he was referring only to a three-year extension – which would have necessitated an extraordinary act on the part of the government – or also a one year increase in tenure – which will apply to everyone.

“One needs to understand that the COAS has already made a public statement that he won’t seek an extension. However, this law will provide an opportunity to the army chief to accept the offer, as it is not an extension, but a protraction of tenure,” the source added.

Another official privy to the developments said that the prime minister has already taken input from the services chiefs over the draft law during his recent meetings with them.

Hamid Khan Advocate told Pakistan Today that there will be no need to amend the constitution for an increase in the tenures of senior military officials.

“Since the tenures of the army officers are not mentioned in the constitution, a simple amendment in the Army Act, 1952, will suffice,” Hamid Khan said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.