What changes does amendment 47 bring to appointment & extension of Service Chiefs? Details inside

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ruling alliance is preparing to present a package of constitutional amendments, one of which seeks to establish a tenure term for Chief Justice while it is also proposing changes about civil-military leadership.

As per the details, the controversial legislation was expected to be tabled in both the National Assembly and the Senate over the weekend but was delayed until Monday afternoon and adjourned again.

Amidst widespread speculation about the possible extension of the Chief of Army Staff and key officials such as the Chief of Army Staff, the government officially released the draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which provided clarification on these issues.

Amendment 47 directly addresses the tenure of COAS and other heads. The amendment introduces new rules regarding appointment, re-appointment and extension of service chiefs.

A new clause has been added which states that the appointment, extension or removal of the heads of the military service shall be subject to the laws relating to the armed forces. Once passed, these provisions cannot be changed or repealed without a separate constitutional amendment.

Invariably, Article 243, which places the military under the control of the President, does not expressly mention the reappointment or extension of service chiefs. The new provision formalizes these processes, while noting that any expansion would still be governed by the Army Act.