Pakistan passes 27th Constitutional Amendment, Asim Munir to become Country’s first CDF, gains control over nuclear…, to lead…
The National Assembly of Pakistan on Wednesday approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill. With this amendment, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir received extraordinary powers, plus the judiciary has undergone structural changes.
What is the 27th Constitutional Amendment?
The vote was taken in the lower house, which experienced significant interruptions, with 234 members of the assembly supporting the bill and 4 opposing it. The attendance of various prominent political leaders was observed, including the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
This amendment takes place amid what opponents say is the crest of political tension in Pakistan. Detractors maintain that the bill will constitutionally elevate the Army Chief above the Prime Minister, putting him in a powerful position over any governance. Previously, the bill was approved by the Senate, the upper house, with 64 votes in favor and none voted against, as opposition parties boycotted the debate.
How will this change the military structure?
After this amendment, Army Chief Asim Munir will assume the new position of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), thereby becoming the joint head of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in accordance with the Constitution. This also means that he will not be required to consult with the heads of the three services to act. Honorary five-star ranks (Field Marshal, Air Force Marshal, and Admiral of the Fleet) will remain for a lifetime, and he will have authority over the nuclear command of the country.
The key point of this constitutional reform is that it provides legal protection to the Field Marshal, which means that no legal action can be taken against Asim Munir for life, even after he leaves the position. The Prime Minister will also not be able to remove the title of Field Marshal. Opponents are calling this the constitutional introduction of civil-military rule in the country.
How will judicial powers change?
This bill gives extraordinary authority to the Army Chief and restricts the powers of Pakistan’s Supreme Court. It also creates a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to address constitutional and provincial matters, while most civil and criminal cases remain with the Supreme Court. The FCC will consist of equal members from all provinces and have the authority to take suo motu notice of constitutional petitions.
The governing coalition, consisting of the PML-N, PPP, and other allied parties, has given its support to this particular amendment, despite opposition lawmakers declaring it unconstitutional. PTI Chairman Gauhar Ali Khan has caused controversy by referring to it as a “Baku-style amendment” and accused the government of purposely weakening democracy. During debate on the bill, PKMAP’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai made a display against the bill by tearing a copy of it there in the house. The amendment will now proceed to the Senate for final consideration before it can become law.
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