Gen Pravez Kayani extension case: Pak court admits plea for early hearing

A Pakistani court on Tuesday admitted a retired army officer's application, seeking an early hearing of his petition challenging the unprecedented three-year extension given to army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in 2010.

A two-judge division bench of the Islamabad High Court will hear the case in the third week of November.

The bench accepted the civil miscellaneous application filed by Col (retired) Inamur Rahim, who is challenging the legality of Kayani's extension.

On September 25, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman had dismissed a similar petition, saying it was "not maintainable".

The petition was rejected under Article 199 (3) of the Constitution, which bars the High Court from hearing military-related cases.

Later, Rahim filed an intra-court appeal challenging the chief justice's order.

Rahim contended there was no provision in the Army Act of 1956, under which an extension for a complete tenure could be granted to any military officer.

Kayani was given the three-year extension by the government in July 2010.

He is now set to retire next year though he attained the age of superannuation (60 years) on April 20 this year.