PM Imran says harmony among state institutions vital

Legislation on extension of army chief’s tenure to be brought in consultation with opposition, says premier

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said his government has decided to completely implement the apex court’s verdict with regard to extension in tenure of the army chief and is doing legislation in this regard “in order to avoid clash among state institutions.”

“The government has complete authority to extend tenure of an army chief and I extended tenure of [Chief of Army Staff] General Qamar Javed Bajwa after careful deliberation.

“However, now the government will legislate in this regard as harmony among the state institutions is the need of the hour,” Imran said on Friday while chairing the ruling PTI’s parliamentary party meeting also attended by lawmakers from allied parties.

The PM was referring to the controversy surrounding extension in service of General Qamar.

Prime Minister Imran Khan gave an extension to the army chief – who was set to retire on November 29 – through a notification that was later revealed was issued in August last year. However, the move was challenged in the apex court which suspended the notification days before end of Qamar’s tenure.

This created a crisis which was partly resolved on Nov 28, when the apex court gave the government six months to legislate and iron out the lacunae in the reappointment or extension of tenure of an army chief – paving the way for Gen Qamar to stay on until a new law determined his terms of service.

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A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Mian Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, issued the verdict when the state’s chief law officer submitted undertaking that parliament would bring in a new law on the matter.

The government had, however, approached the Supreme Court last week seeking a review of its November 28 verdict. The review had been filed after the government failed to muster “desired support” from the major opposition parties on proposed legislation.

However, now the government would once again push for legislation as the main opposition group, the PML-N, has agreed to support the government in this matter. Talking with reference to the proposed legislation, PM Imran said the new bill will be introduced in consultation with the opposition.

The premier also defended amendments in the law – the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 – that governs the country’s top graft buster – the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He said these amendments were necessary to restore confidence of the business community and the bureaucrats.

“Due to NAB’s fear among these two segments of society, progress had stalled,” he claimed.

President Dr Arif Alvi on December 27 promulgated the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 in a move to limit the sweeping powers of the anti-corruption watchdog to act against any individual accused of financial corruption at will.

The new law offers more protection to public officeholders or government officials while at the same time excludes several financial sectors from the purview of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Under the ordinance, the government mandates the NAB chairman to submit a report on complaints against the bureau to government. Earlier, the NAB chief used to submit such a report to the president.
The premier said a government committee is also holding consultation with the opposition over the NAB law amendments.

“Those who are not involved in graft should not worry about accountability,” he added.