The duly extended service tenure of incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to expire in November 2022. A lot of discussion, speculations and debate is already going on in the political circles about the posting of the New Army Chief. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has already announced that he is neither interested nor going to seek any extension in service at all.
Vested interests here and there are also creating unwelcome controversies in quite an inappropriate manner despite repeated assertions by the ISPR that the army should not be dragged into political discussion in any manner and that the army has nothing to do with politics and is focused on performing its most important duties and functions to safeguard and secure security and solidarity of the country, to counter and eliminate terrorism in all manifestations and face all security challenges squarely, boldly and determinedly.
In view of prevailing trouble-shooting circumstances, it is pertinent to mention here the constitutional provisions about the command of the armed forces, their functions etc for sake of information of all concerned who may be wondering about what the 1973 Constitution says about the armed forces of the country.
Vested interests here and there are also creating unwelcome controversies in quite an inappropriate manner despite repeated assertions by the ISPR that the army should not be dragged into political discussion.
Articles 243,244 and 245 of the 1973 Constitution pertain to the Armed Forces and these are being reproduced below verbatim;
Article 243 pertains to the Command of Armed Forces and it inter alia reads:
(1) The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President.
(3) The President shall subject to law, have power-
(a) To raise and maintain the Military, Naval and Air Forces of Pakistan and the Reserves of such Forces: and
(b) To grant Commissions in such Forces.
(4) The President shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint
(a) The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee;
(b) The Chief of the Army Staff;
(c) The Chief of Naval Staff; and
(d) The Chief of the Air Staff,
and shall also determine their salaries and allowances.
Article 244 relates to the Oath of Armed Forces and it reads ” Every member of the Armed Forces shall make an oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.
“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
I——–, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which embodies the will of the people, that I will not engage myself in any political activities whatsoever and that I will honestly and faithfully Pakistan in the Pakistan Army (or Navy or Air Force) as required by and under the law.
May Allah Almighty help and guide me (Ameen)”.
Article 245 pertains to the Functions of Armed Forces and inter alia reads:
(1) The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
(2) The validity of any direction issued by the Federal Government under clause (1) shall not be called in question in any court.
(3) A High Court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the Armed Forces of Pakistan are, for the time being, acting in aid of civil power in pursuance of Article 245;
Provided that this clause shall not be deemed to affect the jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of any proceeding pending immediately before the day on which the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power.
(4) Any proceeding in relation to an area referred to in clause (3) instituted on or after the day the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power and pending in any High Court shall remain suspended for the period during which the Armed Forces are so acting.”
The writer is a Lahore-based freelance journalist, columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News), Radio Pakistan, Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail.com
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