NA standing body on defence takes up Army Act today

ISLAMABAD: Accepting the demand of the opposition, the government has decided to follow due parliamentary process in passage of three amendment bills envisaging extension or re-appointment of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and three services chiefs.

As per the decision, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence will meet in-camera at the Parliament House today (Monday) to take up the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) bill, Pak Navy (Amendment) bill and Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) bill to accord its approval. After that the National Assembly will pass three amendment bills and then the bills will be approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Defence before bills are passed by the Senate.

The bills would become acts of Parliament once signed by the president.

The decision to follow due parliamentary process has also been taken to remove any ambiguity which surfaces after the bills were okayed by joint meeting of two standing committees on defence chaired by parliamentary secretary on Aviation.