Pakistan Parliament Approves Major Constitutional Shift, Expands Army Chief’s Powers

ISLAMABAD — In a rapid and highly debated move, Pakistan’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment that significantly strengthens the authority of the country’s military leadership while reducing the role of the Supreme Court. The amendment sailed through the National Assembly on Wednesday with well over the required two-thirds majority; only four lawmakers opposed it. The Senate had already cleared the bill earlier in the week after opposition members refused to participate in the discussions. Such swift approval is rare for constitutional changes, which typically take several weeks or even months. The amendment will take effect once the president signs it, a step viewed largely as ceremonial. Under the new arrangement, Army Chief General Asim Munir will assume the newly created position of Chief of Defence Forces, giving him formal command over all three branches — the army, navy, and air force. Once his tenure ends, he will retain his rank and receive lifelong legal immunity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the development, calling it a measure aimed at strengthening “institutional harmony” and promoting national cohesion. He said the amendment was not just about elevating one military leader but also about acknowledging the contributions of all armed forces. “Nations honor their heroes,” he told parliament, defending the move. Critics Voice Alarming Concerns Opposition parties and legal experts, however, describe the amendment as a dramatic power grab. By shifting future constitutional cases from the Supreme Court to a newly formed Federal Constitutional Court — whose judges will be appointed by the government — critics argue the ruling coalition is tightening its control over the judiciary. Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, walked out before the vote. They tore up copies of the bill, claiming the government pushed the amendment through without consultation. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari condemned the move, saying the constitution had been “buried” and the country was being turned into a “banana republic.” Legal scholars also issued strong warnings. Constitutional expert Asad Rahim Khan called the situation “uncharted territory,” arguing the reforms undermine a judicial system that has operated for nearly a century. Another lawyer, Mirza Moiz Baig, described the change as “the death knell of an independent judiciary,” noting that allowing the government to select top judges could dissolve any meaningful oversight of executive power. A Deepening Military Influence Pakistan’s military has long played an influential role in the nation's political landscape, but analysts say this amendment gives the institution an unprecedented constitutional standing. As Baig noted, parliament has now granted the military powers “that previous dictators could only dream of.”