Pakistan’s parliament on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that significantly amends the constitution and empowers the military head besides establishing a separate constitutional court in addition to the existing Supreme Court of the country.
After passage of the 27th Amendment in the National Assembly and the Senate, the bill is likely to be quickly signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari, whose Pakistan People’s Party with 74 members and PML-N of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with 125 members in the Assembly supported the resolution.
The two parties faced bitter criticism from opposition parties including incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf for backing the move which has bee termed as betrayal of the ideals of democracy that both PML(N) and PPP claimed they stood for in their long struggles.
The legislation would establish a separate Constitutional Court, a move critics say would snatch powers from the Supreme Court. However, the law minister clarified that the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan would remain the current nomenclature with its powers.
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The amendment will also grant the army chief lifelong immunity from prosecution amid accusations over the current military leadership’s role in repression of the political parties including the PTI, which is not allowed to hold public protests and rallies.
International human rights organizations have faulted the Pakistani government and the military establishment for cracking down on political dissent since the 2024 elections, which were widely perceived to have been rigged in favor of the ruling government.
The other major change will replace the position of army chief with the commander of the armed forces, putting the navy and air force under the army head’s command.
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The commander will have power over appointment of senior military leaders.
Defending the amendments, chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said setting up the constitutional court is consistent with the pledges Pakistan’s major political parties under the charter of democracy – a document major political parties committed to about two decades ago.
While Pakistan’s government and military establishment have been criticized for suppression of opposition voices, the military’s role has been acknowledged in the current dangerous security environment in South Asia.
Besides a deadly conflict with India in May, Pakistan is faced with a new wave of terrorist bombings blamed on Afghanistan-based militants including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan fought deadly clashes a few weeks ago.
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Pakistan shot down at least 6 Indian fighter jets in the conflict, raising the military’s profile internationally.
On the eve of passage of the 27th Amendment, terrorist attacked a military training school in Waziristan and rocked capital Islamabad with a suicide car bombing. The ruling coalition praised army’s role in combating challenges on both the Eastern border with India and the Western border with Afghanistan.
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In his comments Bilawal Bhutto noted the developments:
“In the 27th Amendment, we are about to fulfil the unfulfilled promises of the Charter of Democracy. We are about to establish constitutional courts and in Article 243 — after defeating India, the prime minister decided to make the army chief the field marshal — not only are we providing constitutional protection to that rank of field marshal but also bringing some changes to the defense institutions.”
Bilawal Bhutto’s comments referred to Field Marshal Asim Munir, who was army chief when Pakistan fought a deadly conflict with India from May 7 to 10.
”آئین کے ساتھ یہ سب جس بے خوف و خطر طریقے سے یہ سب ہو رہا ہے کیا یہ سب کسی مہذب معاشرے میں ممکن ہے؟ عدلیہ کو تو چابی والا کھلونا ہی بنا کر رکھ دیا گیا ہے۔ آئینی عدالت ابھی بنی نہیں اور ملازمین پہلے سے چن لیے گئے ہیں۔ عدلیہ متحد نہ ہوئی تو آزادی اور فیصلے متاثر ہوں گے۔ “ پارس… pic.twitter.com/Vkh3qGHbt7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 12, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire after hectic diplomatic mediation on May 10. Later, Trump said he averted a possible nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors.
Since May, Pakistan has elevated Army Chief Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshall.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of PML (N) party also defended the controversial amendment, saying the establishment of constitutional courts fulfills a key part of the Charter of Democracy.
This is a breaking news story, being updated
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
