SC directs govt to set COAS tenure through simple act.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court (SC), in its detailed verdict on the army chief's term extension, has rested the responsibility on the government to get the legislation passed in order to provide clarity for all times to come and added that no constitutional amendment is required for the purpose. In the 43-page judgement, the three-member bench which heard the case stated that the 'crucial matter of the tenure of COAS [chief of army staff] and its extension, which has a somewhat chequered history, is before the parliament, to fix for all times to come'.

'It is now for the people of Pakistan and their chosen representatives in the parliament to come up with a law that will provide certainty and predictability to the post of COAS, remembering that in strengthening institutions, nations prosper, ' the verdict added. As per the verdict, the government is just required to pass simple legislation, which would only require a simple majority, to give legal cover to the army chief's job extension.

On November 26, the apex court suspended...