Move in Senate against PM's powers to retain retiring army chiefs.

ISLAMABAD -- Seeking to take away prime minister's powers to retain retiring services chiefs and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three separate bills - the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill - were submitted to the senate secretariat on Monday.

An outspoken Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad separately submitted notices in the office of senate secretary seeking to move amendments to the existing laws.

In January 2020, following unprecedented hitches to the proposed extension in the term of the then army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the parliament had approved three bills that set a higher retirement age for the chiefs of the armed forces, allowing the prime minister to extend their terms at his discretion.

The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 by omitting Sections 8B and 8E in the law. Similarly, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill and Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill seek to amend the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953 and Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961 respectively by omitting different sections in these laws.

Three bills seeking amendments to legislation submitted to Senate

The statement of objects and reasons of the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill says that in the year 2020, the Pakistan Army Act was amended and provisions were inserted for extension in services of army chief and chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. 'Keeping in view the meritorious appointment and promotion of young bold within the Pakistan Army leadership, the provisions related to the extension of these two offices are proposed for omission,' it added.

The statement of...