"Pakistan approved a sweeping constitutional amendment on Wednesday, expanding the powers of the army chief while restricting those of the Supreme Court. The measure, passed by a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, alters the institutional balance of power and further entrenches the military's supremacy in a country that has been directly ruled by army generals for over half of its 78-year history."
"The 27th Amendment to Pakistan's constitution will create a new post of chief of defense forces (CDF), to be held by the head of its army, Field Marshal Asim Munir. The position gives the army chief control also over the navy and the air force. Munir, who became army chief in November 2022, was promoted to field marshal and given a five-star rank in May, just days after Pakistan ended its four-day clash with India."
Parliament passed the 27th Amendment by a two-thirds majority in the lower house after the upper house cleared it two days earlier, and the president signed it into law. Opposition PTI members boycotted the vote and tore up copies of the bill in protest. The amendment creates a chief of defense forces (CDF) post to be held by the army chief, granting control over the navy and air force. Field Marshal Asim Munir, promoted to a five-star rank in May, will hold the new post. The measure restricts the Supreme Court's powers, grants military leaders privileges and immunity, and critics warn it concentrates power and lacked public debate, while the prime minister called it a step toward institutional harmony and national unity.
#pakistan-constitutional-amendment #military-empowerment #civil-military-relations #judicial-limitations
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