Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to amend law to ‘guard’ future army chief and other officials | Tech Reddy

As the date for the selection of the next chief of the Pakistan Army approaches, the government of Shehbaz Sharif is planning to amend the laws to have more authority over the re-appointment of the army chief.

It seems that the Sharif administration is willing to amend the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 which will allow the prime minister to retain any candidate through a simple notification. Currently, the constitutional process is complex and tedious.

According to local media reports, the proposed changes were already approved by the defense ministry last month. The next step will be to present the amended legislation before the Committee for the Disposition of Legislative Cases (CCLC), after which it will head to parliament.

WATCH | PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Nawaz in London, delays return to Pakistan

The news of the amendment did not go down well with the opposition as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari took to Twitter and called out the government.

“Therefore the government intends to amend Section 176:2a of the Army Act of 1952 by inserting the word ‘retention’ after the word ‘reappointment’ and the word ‘resignation’ after the word ‘discharge.’ The summary was sent to CCLC (it was the 3rd item on the agenda) but the mtg was postponed as the NS leader ordered Dar be in CCLC,” Mazari tweeted.

She added that the amendment was a way for Sharif to install his “men” in the army.

PM Shehbaz Sharif came under the scanner recently for meeting his elder brother Nawaz Sharif and discussing the appointment of the next army chief.

Later, PTI chief Imran Khan targeted the brothers and said they are creating a spectacle by choosing the next army chief in London.

Read more: Imran slams Sharif brothers: “It’s a show. Pakistan’s army chief is chosen in London”

“Today, a scene happened in London. Everywhere such a scene happened. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, is in London. What is the purpose of the meeting? It is about discussions about the decision of choose the head of the Pakistani army, “. Khan said

“Important decisions of the country are taken abroad and by those who have looted Pakistan for the last 30 years,” he added.

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire later this month after a six-year tenure and PM Sharif is yet to name his successor.

(With inputs from agencies)

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