Army chief extension case: AGP fails to address concerns of PTI MNA over government's strategy

Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan on Friday failed to address the concerns of ruling party MNA Ramesh Kumar over the government's strategy to challenge apex court verdict on army chief extension case and then going for legislation.

"I failed to understand the logic behind filing a review petition in the court if the government had to go for a legislation on the issue of the Army Chief's extension," Kumar said during an all important meeting of PTI's parliamentary committee chaired by none other than Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.

The sources privy to the development said that Kumar put tough questions to the Prime Minister asking why the government filed an appeal if the law was to be legislated, on which he asked the AGP to respond and address Kumar's queries.

But according to sources, the response from the top law officer of the country did not satisfy the firebrand MNA, as the former had nothing satisfactory to say about filing a review petition and making legislation on the issue.

The sources quoted the Prime Minister as saying that the appointment on key positions is the responsibility of the government, adding that the judiciary interfered in the administration's authority.

According to sources, party's parliamentary members were also briefed on the National Accountability Bureau (Amendment) Ordinance 2019.

PM Khan said that bureaucrats and the business community had raised concerns regarding NAB and the economy was stagnant due to these concerns.

He said the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 is in the best interest of the country, and that the government committee is in talks with the opposition regarding the matter.

Earlier this week, the federal cabinet approved amendments to the Army Act, 1952 setting the retirement age of the chief of army staff (COAS) at 64 years and empowering the prime minister to extend his tenure by three years.

The cabinet unanimously gave the nod of approval at an "emergency" meeting chaired by the Premier.

The decision caught many by surprise as only a few days ago the government had challenged the Supreme Court's judgment on the COAS extension/reappointment maintaining that there were "legal and constitutional faults" in it.

The cabinet meeting approved the draft of an amendment bill, which proposed changes to Section 172 of the Army Act 1952.

Overall political situation of the country and legislative matters were also discussed in the meeting.