Pakistan’s parliament adopted controversial constitutional reforms on Thursday, November 13, granting the president and military chiefs lifetime immunity from any legal proceedings. It’s 27e The constitutional amendment, approved by the then National Assembly’s two-thirds majority in the Senate, also expanded the powers of Pakistan’s army chief and limited the role and independence of the country’s highest court.
Considered the most powerful institution in Pakistan, the army has ruled the country for almost half of its history since its independence in 1947. The army has been systematically accused of interfering in politics, although it denies this.
The text, which must be signed by the president to take effect, provides for the creation of a new function of “chief of defense forces” assigned to the army chief of staff, Asim Munir, which would place him above the chiefs of navy and air force staff. He explained that all soldiers promoted to the rank of “field marshal”, like Asim Munir in May following the major conflict between Pakistan and India, will now be able to retain their rank and privileges for life and enjoy immunity from any legal proceedings. Current President Asif Ali Zardari was also given lifetime immunity.
Power is in the hands of a single military function
The amendment also created the Federal Constitutional Court, which is now the only one capable of handling constitutional issues, stripping the Supreme Court of its powers and limiting its independence, as the executive branch would be given the authority to remove its judges.
This amendment is “the final blow to the independence of the judiciary and the functioning of democracy”reported to Agence France-Presse (AFP) Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, spokesman for PTI, the main opposition party, some of his deputies tore up copies of the text and left the room before the vote. “They gave the president lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution and created a system that concentrates power in the hands of one military office”added PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
“This constitutional amendment will strengthen authoritarianism, and what little democracy that still exists in the country will be lost”also worried AFP Osama Malik, an Islamabad-based lawyer. “This text not only eliminated civilian control over army activities, but also destroyed the military hierarchy, previously all chiefs of staff were considered equal”he added. These changes “will destroy all independence of justice”that allows the government to reward obedient judges and punish other judges by transferring them to distant courts, Malik lamented.
The bill is the latest in a series of laws aimed at reforming justice adopted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s fragile coalition government, which came to power in 2024 after legislative elections marred by allegations of fraud.
The ruling party has repeatedly criticized court decisions favoring jailed former prime minister and opposition party leader Imran Khan.
