Legal tweak to allow PM to retain army officers with stroke of pen.

ISLAMABAD -- At a time when the country's military is preparing for a change of command, the government seems to be considering amending the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 in a way that would empower the appointing authority - i.e. the prime minister - to retain any candidate through a simple notification, rather than having to go through a complex, constitutional process, it has emerged.

The summary regarding a slew of changes is all set to land before the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC), following approval by the Ministry of Defence last month, after which the proposed legislation is expected to be laid before parliament.

As per the proposed amendment in Section 176 titled 'Power to make rules', sub section (2-a), in clause (a) of the PAA, the word 'retention' shall be inserted after 'reappointment' in the current text of the law, while the word 'resignation' would be inserted after the word 'release'.

The clause in question...