karachi, pakistan
Reuters
—
Pakistan’s parliament on Wednesday approved constitutional reforms that would expand the powers of military commanders and limit the power of the Supreme Court, a move critics say will irreparably damage the country’s democracy.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a two-thirds majority, but only four members voted against it.
The Senate passed the bill two days ago after opposition parties boycotted its deliberations. This is an unprecedented speed for constitutional amendment. Such modifications typically require weeks to months of consideration. This amendment bill will become law after receiving the president’s signature (official signature).
Army Chief Asim Munir will now be promoted to the new head of the defense force, and will be in charge of the navy and air force in addition to the army. He will retain his position even after his term ends and enjoy legal immunity for life.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the amendments as a step towards institutional harmony and national unity.
“Today, if we make this part of the constitution, it is not just a matter of field marshals,” Sharif said, adding that he also acknowledged the air force and navy. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked the speaker. “A nation honors its heroes…We know how to show respect for our heroes and earn their respect.”
Critics say the changes will concentrate power in the hands of the military and coalition government.
The proposed amendment would move constitutional cases from the Supreme Court to a new Federal Constitutional Court, whose judges would be appointed by the government. In recent years, the Supreme Court has blocked government policies and ousted the prime minister.
Opposition members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, founded by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, walked out before the vote and tore up copies of the bill, protesting that they had not been consulted.
“None of the MPs cared about democracy or abolishing the judiciary. They voted to be silent spectators while the country becomes a banana republic,” said PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari. “Rest in peace, Pakistan’s constitution.”
Legal experts warned that the reforms could undermine judicial independence.
“We are facing completely uncharted territory. This is a violation of the justice system that we have not seen in almost a century,” said constitutional lawyer Asad Rahim Khan. “Members who pat each other on the back should be prepared to seek redress from the same courts they destroyed and subjugated to the state.”
Constitutional lawyer Mirza Moiz Baig said the amendments would “herald the end of an independent judiciary” and give the prime minister and president the power to handpick the president and other judges of the new federal constitutional court, weakening the court’s ability to check government overreach.
The military has long wielded far-reaching influence over Pakistan’s politics, but the reforms will strengthen its constitutional underpinnings and make it difficult to overturn.
“By passing the amendment, Congress has achieved what previous dictators could only dream of,” Baig said.
