Pakistan's Parliament Passes Controversial Amendment Granting Army Chief Lifelong Immunity and Expanded Powers.
In a move that has sparked widespread criticism as a "funeral for democracy", Pakistan's parliament has passed a 27th constitutional amendment granting the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers and lifelong legal immunity. The bill is now expected to be signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, formally enshrining it in the constitution.
The amendment significantly enhances Munir's authority, elevating him to the post of Chief of Defence Forces and giving him control over all branches of the military, including the navy and air force. It also grants him lifelong immunity from prosecution, effectively making him above reproach.
Critics argue that this move substantially undermines the independence of the judiciary, which is now subject to a new federal constitutional court established by the amendment. The decision on transferring judges will rest solely with the president, removing any accountability processes. Constitutional lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed described the amendment as "completely destroying any notion of independence in the judiciary" and likened it to setting Pakistan on the path towards a "lifelong dictatorship".
The legislation has been widely condemned by opposition parties and civil society groups, who see it as an attempt to enshrine military rule and push the country further into authoritarianism. Since 2008, Pakistan has emerged as a fragile democracy, with civilian governments often manipulated or controlled by the powerful military behind the scenes.
Munir's increased power comes after years of consolidating control over the military and its influence in the government. His tenure has been marked by unprecedented international meetings, including two White House encounters with former US President Donald Trump, which led to Trump referring to him as "my favourite field marshal".
The amendment's passage through parliament has been described as a sign of the weakness of the ruling coalition government and the untouchable power wielded by Munir. The largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), boycotted the vote, while smaller parties have expressed outrage at what they see as an attempt to dismantle democracy.
In a move that has sparked widespread criticism as a "funeral for democracy", Pakistan's parliament has passed a 27th constitutional amendment granting the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers and lifelong legal immunity. The bill is now expected to be signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, formally enshrining it in the constitution.
The amendment significantly enhances Munir's authority, elevating him to the post of Chief of Defence Forces and giving him control over all branches of the military, including the navy and air force. It also grants him lifelong immunity from prosecution, effectively making him above reproach.
Critics argue that this move substantially undermines the independence of the judiciary, which is now subject to a new federal constitutional court established by the amendment. The decision on transferring judges will rest solely with the president, removing any accountability processes. Constitutional lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed described the amendment as "completely destroying any notion of independence in the judiciary" and likened it to setting Pakistan on the path towards a "lifelong dictatorship".
The legislation has been widely condemned by opposition parties and civil society groups, who see it as an attempt to enshrine military rule and push the country further into authoritarianism. Since 2008, Pakistan has emerged as a fragile democracy, with civilian governments often manipulated or controlled by the powerful military behind the scenes.
Munir's increased power comes after years of consolidating control over the military and its influence in the government. His tenure has been marked by unprecedented international meetings, including two White House encounters with former US President Donald Trump, which led to Trump referring to him as "my favourite field marshal".
The amendment's passage through parliament has been described as a sign of the weakness of the ruling coalition government and the untouchable power wielded by Munir. The largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), boycotted the vote, while smaller parties have expressed outrage at what they see as an attempt to dismantle democracy.
... it's like they're basically saying the army is above the law now... and that's not just gonna hurt civilians but also the country's international reputation... i mean who wants a life-long dictator just lurking in the shadows? 
doesn't sound good at all... it's time for change, not more of the same old military control... can someone please bring some much-needed accountability to this situation? 
just another move in the cycle of military rule and civilian governments getting manipulated... it's like we're stuck in this never-ending loop 
and now Munir gets to be the king of Pakistan for life, no accountability whatsoever 
I mean, what's next? The president signing a bill that makes him untouchable by law? 
It's like they're trying to push us further into authoritarianism and democracy is just a word on the books... 
This whole thing is just so worrying 
. Like, I get it, stability and security are important, but this is just a huge overreach by the military 
. And for what? So they can just do whatever they want without any accountability? No thanks! 
. I mean, we already have issues with civilian governments being manipulated by the military in Pakistan... now it seems like we're taking a step backward 
.
. I hope people keep speaking out against this and pushing back against the military's grip on power 
As if having a few token opposition parties showing up was gonna stop this trainwreck from crashing into a full-on military coup. And hey, at least it's not like they're trying to erase history or suppress dissent (unlike some other countries 
). All hail the army chief with god-like powers! 
. I mean, what's next? Giving him control over law enforcement too? 
This move just sets a bad precedent for democracy in Pakistan. 
this is so worrying, pakistan is already struggling with many issues like corruption and terrorism, and now this amendment is gonna make things worse 
this is a huge step back for the country and its citizens, i feel so sorry for the people who are gonna be affected by this 
.
It seems like they're just letting this happen without any pushback 
. what's even more worrying is how this affects the judiciary - if they're now subject to a new federal court with no accountability processes, it basically means the military has control over them too 
... I mean, who needs checks and balances when you've got a powerful army chief in charge? 
Asim Munir's new powers are giving me major concerns about the future of democracy in that country 
. It feels like we're watching a real-life video game where the player (in this case, the president) has all the keys to manipulate the system 
. The fact that judges can be transferred without any accountability is super sketchy 
.
on the country's freedoms. Still, it's hard to deny that this amendment is a huge step back in the wrong direction 
. We need to keep an eye on this and hold those in power accountable 
.
what's next? a president for life too? 
the fact that judges have no say in their appointments is just mind-boggling 
The fact that they're calling this a "funeral for democracy" is just laughable, it's time to move on from all those weak democratic institutions and get a real leader in charge. 
meanwhile, the opposition is just sitting there twiddling their thumbs because they couldn't get enough votes to block it 
i mean, what's next? will they start giving the president superpowers too? 
and honestly, who is this guy asim munir that he needs all these extra powers in the first place? sounds like a power-hungry individual to me 
. Can't believe they're trampling all over the rule of law like this 
.