Downplaying the hype surrounding the government’s proposed amendments to the Army Act 1952, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the media frenzy surrounding the changes is ‘uncalled for’ and clarified that the government is not considering any ‘major changes’.
It had emerged on Wednesday that the federal government was considering amending the Army Act of 1952 to allow the premier to retain any candidate through simply issuing a notification, instead of going through a lengthy constitutional process.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded to the growing concern surrounding the proposed changes, and said on Twitter that the ‘media hype’ over the amendments in the Pakistan Army Act is ‘uncalled for’.
“Government is not considering any major changes in the said Act. SCP had demanded review of relevant clauses of PAA in its judgement in CP 39/2019 which shall be complied with in due course,” he wrote.
Media hype over amendments in Pakistan Army Act is uncalled for. Government is not considering any major changes in the said Act. SCP had demanded review of relevant clauses of PAA in its judgement in CP 39/2019 which shall be complied with in due course.
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 16, 2022
One of the proposed changes includes the addition of the words ‘retention’ and ‘resignation’, leading to speculations that the government is trying to retain incumbent army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is set to retire towards the end of this month.
Other theories being pushed claim that the changes are being made to favor General Asim Munir, who is the senior most candidate for the post of the army chief, and will be retiring a few days before General Bajwa.
