Five-Year Tenure Approved for Army Chief, Retirement Age Removed in Historic Army Act Amendment

The government has extended the tenure of Pakistan’s army chief from three to five years through amendments to the Pakistan Army Act of 1952. In a landmark change, the amendment also removes the retirement age of a four-star general, allowing the chief of army staff (COAS) to serve beyond the age of 64.

The amendment, approved on Monday, applies to the COAS’s period of appointment, reappointment, and extension, specifying that “the COAS shall continue to serve as a General in the Pakistan Army.” Previously, Section 8C of the Army Act imposed a maximum age limit of 64 years on the appointment or extension of the COAS, but the revised version eliminates this restriction. Additionally, the use of “and/or” between reappointment and extension enables the possibility of an extended tenure.

The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling coalition to provide continuity in military leadership and end speculation about potential extensions or new appointments every three years. The government also passed two other key pieces of legislation: one to increase the number of judges in the superior judiciary, and another amending the Supreme Court’s Practice and Procedure Act.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, explained the reasoning behind the amendment during an interview with a private TV channel. He noted that nearly a year was spent on lobbying and deliberation whenever the issue of a service chief’s appointment or extension arose. As a result, chiefs often served only two effective years of their term. Sanaullah described the five-year tenure as a “wise effort,” noting that this duration aligns with the term of other key constitutional offices.

Identical amendments have also been made to the laws governing the navy and air force, extending the tenure and flexibility for their respective chiefs.