ISLAMABAD – A petition challenging the extension of the Chief of Army Staff’s tenure has been set for hearing in Supreme Court of Pakistan next week.
The case is scheduled to be heard on November 20, when seven-member constitutional bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, will examine petition filed by Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, which argues that extension of COAS’s term violates constitutional provisions.
The apex court bench will also hear related case challenging legality of an amendment passed by parliament in previous weeks by coalition government, which extended tenure of heads of all armed forces to five years.
The same bench of the top court will also hear another petition filed by Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other petitioners, challenging formation of government-backed audio leaks commission. The commission was created to investigate a series of controversial audio leaks involving high-profile political figures.
The constitutional bench will include Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. Legal experts are closely watching the hearings, as both cases address critical constitutional and political issues that could have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s governance and military leadership.
Parliament passed amendment extending the term limit for chiefs of the army, navy, and air force, a move that sparked significant debate regarding the balance of power between the military and civilian government in the country.
Pakistan coalition govt extends Army Chief tenure to five years
