Pakistan's parliament has approved a contentious constitutional amendment that gives the army chief unprecedented powers and grants him lifetime immunity from prosecution. Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is widely seen as Pakistan's de facto ruler, will become the chief of defence forces, overseeing the armed forces, while also enjoying immunity from prosecution.
Critics argue that this move effectively undermines civilian supremacy and sets the country on a path towards authoritarianism. The amendment grants Munir lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution, making him above reproach and immune to accountability. It also significantly undermines the powers of the supreme court, which will be reduced in stature by the establishment of a new federal constitutional court that will report directly to the executive.
"This is a funeral for democracy," said Aqil Shah, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University in the US. "The immunity granted to Munir makes a mockery of civilian supremacy and places him above all reproach."
Salahuddin Ahmed, a constitutional lawyer, described the amendment as a "complete destruction" of any notion of independence in the judiciary in Pakistan. The new court will have its judges selected by the executive, removing any accountability processes.
Pakistan has struggled to establish a stable democracy since its inception in 1947. The country has experienced numerous military coups and periods of authoritarian rule under full military dictatorship. However, since 2008, when Gen Pervez Musharraf was ousted, Pakistan has attempted to build on this fragile foundation with elected civilian governments.
However, the powerful military has taken greater control over governance in recent years. As the army chief since 2022, Munir has consolidated power and become increasingly influential, including traveling internationally as de facto head of state and holding unprecedented meetings with high-ranking officials like Donald Trump.
The passage of this amendment without meaningful debate or opposition from lawmakers is a sign of the weakening coalition government and Munir's unassailable influence. Even the largest opposition party in Pakistan, PTI, boycotted the vote due to its own internal struggles.
Over 100 lawyers and civil society activists have condemned the amendment as "tampering with the constitution" and accused the government of disregarding meaningful engagement with experts. The move has sparked widespread concern among human rights groups and democracy advocates who fear it will push Pakistan further into authoritarianism.
Critics argue that this move effectively undermines civilian supremacy and sets the country on a path towards authoritarianism. The amendment grants Munir lifetime immunity from criminal prosecution, making him above reproach and immune to accountability. It also significantly undermines the powers of the supreme court, which will be reduced in stature by the establishment of a new federal constitutional court that will report directly to the executive.
"This is a funeral for democracy," said Aqil Shah, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University in the US. "The immunity granted to Munir makes a mockery of civilian supremacy and places him above all reproach."
Salahuddin Ahmed, a constitutional lawyer, described the amendment as a "complete destruction" of any notion of independence in the judiciary in Pakistan. The new court will have its judges selected by the executive, removing any accountability processes.
Pakistan has struggled to establish a stable democracy since its inception in 1947. The country has experienced numerous military coups and periods of authoritarian rule under full military dictatorship. However, since 2008, when Gen Pervez Musharraf was ousted, Pakistan has attempted to build on this fragile foundation with elected civilian governments.
However, the powerful military has taken greater control over governance in recent years. As the army chief since 2022, Munir has consolidated power and become increasingly influential, including traveling internationally as de facto head of state and holding unprecedented meetings with high-ranking officials like Donald Trump.
The passage of this amendment without meaningful debate or opposition from lawmakers is a sign of the weakening coalition government and Munir's unassailable influence. Even the largest opposition party in Pakistan, PTI, boycotted the vote due to its own internal struggles.
Over 100 lawyers and civil society activists have condemned the amendment as "tampering with the constitution" and accused the government of disregarding meaningful engagement with experts. The move has sparked widespread concern among human rights groups and democracy advocates who fear it will push Pakistan further into authoritarianism.
, tbh. It feels like a major step backwards for Pakistan's democracy, you know? #PakistanDemocracy #AuthoritarianTendencies
. I mean, what's next? Giving him control over the entire country without any checks and balances? #MunirPower #NoAccountability
. The military has always had a lot of influence, but this is just ridiculous.
. At least someone's speaking out against this amendment. We need more voices to stand up for accountability and transparency in Pakistan. #HumanRightsMatter #DemocracyForPakistan
. I mean, the fact that he gets lifetime immunity from prosecution is just crazy talk! It's like, what even is the point of having a government if they can just let one person be above the law? 
And now they're reducing the powers of the supreme court too... it's like, what's next? A whole army of unelected judges who answer only to the executive? 
. It's just so frustrating when you see countries taking steps back towards authoritarianism instead of moving forward towards freedom and equality.
. As a student, I'm just worried about what this means for Pakistan's future and our own country's values of democracy and human rights 
.
, think it's about time someone in Pakistan gets some real power 
! I mean, the current system is just a joke, politicians are always whining about something or other and accomplishing nothing 
. Asim Munir seems like a no-nonsense kinda guy who actually gets things done 
! The whole democracy thing is overrated anyway 
. It's time for someone with some actual strength to take control and make decisions, not just a bunch of squabbling politicians 
. Plus, who needs human rights when you've got stability and security? 
, i think its crazy that they're basically making the army chief untouchable 
, no one wants to be in a position of power where you can do whatever and get away with it. its like they're setting a bad example for other countries who are trying to establish their own democracies 
. what's next, is he gonna be above the law in all aspects? 
This whole thing is just a mess, you know? Like, I'm all for the army chief having some level of control, but this is taking it to a whole new level. Lifetime immunity from prosecution? That's just crazy talk! 
. And don't even get me started on the judges being picked by the executive, that's just a recipe for disaster 
. And with PTI boycotting the vote and other lawyers and civil society activists condemning it, it's clear there are some serious concerns about how this was all handled.
. This amendment is a huge step backwards and I just don't see how they can recover from it.