November 5, 2024
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
A hurried enactment of legislation by the parliament on November 4, that has raised the tenure of all three chiefs of the defence services from three to five years has sparked widespread debate and serious concern among political analysts and military experts.
In addition, the retirement age bar of 64 years (for generals, air chief marshals, and admirals, will not be applied to the three functionaries. The extensions and reappointments for these posts, if any, will also be for five years. However, tenure of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff remains unchanged, at three years.
‘No rationale given for 5-year tenure’
Renowned author and expert on military affairs, Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, has strongly criticized the move, suggesting that the PML-N leadership had been planning to extend the Army Chief’s tenure ever since it came to power.
“PML-N leaders have been thinking of giving an extension to the current COAS, in background meetings,” she revealed while speaking in a current affairs webshow on the Naya Daur portal, hosted by Raza Rumi. “The extension to the COAS is a matter prior to the 26th Constitutional Amendment, but now the difference is that the extension is happening now rather than a year later,” she said.
However this decision has dampened the hopes of aspiring lieutenant generals who were eyeing the top military position next year, she says. With the extension limited to only the service chiefs, these officers will now retire on schedule.
“Among the senior officers, there is now a lot of anxiety—and whenever there is a scenario of an extension being given to the COAS,” Siddiqa explains. She questioned the rationale behind the extension, wondering what specific changes the Army Chief could aim to implement over a five-year tenure.
Siddiqa expressed her concern about the military’s performance in countering terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, and the financial implications of a prolonged tenure, which could involve significant military procurement. She emphasized the need for a quid pro quo arrangement, where the civilian government could exert greater control over defence procurement and foreign policy in exchange for extending the military leadership’s tenure. However, she acknowledged that the PML-N government was unlikely to take such a bold step.
Drawing parallels with the tenures of previous powerful military leaders, Siddiqa warned that such extensions would lead to a power imbalance and undermine democratic institutions. “Powerful military chiefs like Ziaul Haq, Pervez Musharraf and Qamar Bajwa had used parliament and the then governments to enact laws in their favour, but they subsequently dislodged these governments from power,” Siddiqa pointed out. She questioned the hurried nature of the legislative process and its potential impact on civil-military relations.
‘COAS’s appointment will become more politicized’
Khalid Naeem Lodhi, Pakistan’s former defence secretary, believes that extending the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) tenure will not be improving the delicate civil-military relations.
“The raising of service tenure of chiefs will not resolve any issue,” he stated. “In fact, it may create new problems or worsen existing ones, making the COAS appointment even more politicised.”
Lodhi also pointed out that a five-year tenure extension for the military chief could disrupt the career advancement of three-star lieutenant generals, air marshals, and admirals across the three defence services, unless corresponding adjustments are made downstream. However, he noted that officers below the two-star ranks would not be significantly impacted by the COAS’s tenure extension.
‘Civil military ties will improve due to increase in tenure’
However, defence analyst Brig (r) Edgar Ellis believes that extending the service chiefs’ tenure will actually improve civil-military relations. “Originally, the tenure of the army chief used to be 4 years, but when Ayub Khan became Field Marshall, he revised it to 3 years,” Ellis explained. He thinks that increasing the tenure to 5 years would be beneficial, allowing the service chiefs to implement their plans without needing extensions. “The civil-military relationship shall benefit from this act and will progressively improve, therein ushering in much-needed stability.”
Ellis noted that this change would have a one-time impact on senior officers in line to succeed the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) next year. “It will affect those aspiring to be chiefs, but by and large, it would be a one-time thing rather than continuous extensions, which leave many aspirations unfulfilled and frustrate a few.”
Replying to a question about why the government chose not to enhance the tenure of the other four-star post of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, he said the position is much of a ceremonial nature with almost no powers. “If the position were like the United States CJSC, who is all powerful , then his tenure would have been enhanced,” he opined.
‘Tenure extension will provide stability’
Defence analyst Brig (r) Masud Ahmed Khan believes that extending the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) tenure to five years will bring much-needed stability to Pakistan’s volatile security situation. He highlighted the importance of stability and effective leadership in the military to counter security challenges, particularly in KP and Balochistan. Besides, the military leadership was part of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) aiming to bolster Pakistan’s economy. “For instance, the Green Pakistan Initiative to convert barren lands into cultivable farms undertaken by the current COAS necessitates continuity in leadership for its fruition,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf has rejected the legislation passed by the parliament.
“The latest government legislation has the potential to have negative effects on Pakistan’s armed forces and the country’s justice system,” said the PTI spokesperson.
COAS Asim Munir to serve till 2027
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the Army Chief General Asim Munir will serve until 2027 following the recent approval of amendments to the Army Act.
“Previously, several army chiefs were granted extensions, which required parliamentary endorsement,” he told the host of a current affairs show on a news channel, adding that the new amendment effectively closes this chapter on term extensions.