Will the army chief also be getting an extension under the new constitutional package?

ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to give an extension of at least three years to all the members of civil and military bureaucracy in the country under the new constitutional package.

According to senior journalist Azaz Syed, one of the clauses in the new constitutional package also related to the tenure of all services chiefs.

Under this clause this will also enable all the officers of Airforce, Army and Navy (including chiefs) to have three years added in their service, the journalist wrote on his social media post ’X’.

This clause is the major bone of contention between the government and the PTI, according to Azaz Syed.

If this is implemented that means current army chief General Asim Munir tenure will be extended till 2027.

OTHER CLAUSES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE

According to sources, over 20 clauses are expected to be included in the proposed changes, affecting various key articles in Pakistan’s Constitution, including Articles 51, 63, 175, and 187.

The constitutional amendments include increasing representation for Balochistan in the provincial assembly. The proposal aims to raise the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly from 65 to 81, a move intended to ensure better representation of the province in legislative matters.

Another constitutional amendment, Article 63, deals with the disqualification of members of Parliament, and will also undergo significant changes. These changes include provisions regarding the voting behaviour of defecting members of the assembly.

Article 181 is also expected to be amended to allow for broader judicial reforms. One of the major judicial amendments proposes that the Chief Justice of Pakistan will no longer have their tenure extended, while Islamabad High Court judges may now be transferred to other provincial High Courts.

Another major constitutional amendment suggests that the appointment of the Chief Justice will be done by a panel consisting of the five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.

This will mark a shift from the current procedure where the senior-most judge automatically becomes the Chief Justice. The remaining four judges of the Constitutional Court will be appointed by the government, further signalling a shift in the current appointment process of judges.

Furthermore, it will be decided that the Constitutional Court will hear cases related to constitutional matters concerning Articles 184, 185, and 186.

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