In a significant move, the Pakistani parliament approved an amendment on Monday to extend the tenure of the chief of armed forces from three to five years. The amendment allows Army Chief General Asim Munir, who took office in November 2022 and was originally scheduled to retire in 2025, to now serve until 2027.

The legislation, introduced by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, received majority support during a session marked by strong opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The bill amending the Pakistan Army Act of 1952 was swiftly approved by both the Senate and the National Assembly in just over 16 minutes, with both chambers currently dominated by a coalition opposed to Imran Khan.

PTI lawmakers protested the expedited process, with some tearing up copies of the bill in a display of dissent.