New Delhi: Pakistanis are convinced about three things—their constitution has become irrelevant, their Parliament has been reduced to a ‘rubber stamp’, and the military is now the Majesty. Disgruntled civilians are now offering advice and comparing a dictator’s list.
“This amendment should be sent to North Korea so Kim Jon Un can read it to his grandkids as a lullaby,” said senior lawyer Abdul Moiz Jafferi.
The ruling coalition on Sunday tabled a bill to yet again change the constitution, under what experts call ‘democratic reversals under the hybrid government-plus arrangement.’
Changes include the establishment of a Federal Constitution Court superseding the apex court and transferring judges from the SC to the new court. In a rather unusual move, the judges who refuse would have to retire.
What makes it worse is the absolute power handed over to the Pakistan COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir. The proposed amendment to Article 243, which governs the federal government’s command of the armed forces, is being justified on the grounds that modern warfare demands structural changes and that the rank of Field Marshal requires formal constitutional recognition.
Under the amendment, top military leadership would gain broader, constitutionally protected powers and privileges, so that they can never be removed from their post. The long-standing Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, traditionally rotated among the army, navy, and air force, would be abolished. In its place, a new post of Chief of Defence Forces, to be held by the Army Chief, would be created.
The ranks of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet would receive lifetime status, remaining in uniform with full privileges and presidential-level immunity. They can only be removed through impeachment.
Effectively, the amendment has shut down any and all accountability, shifting the rule from the people to the military.
Also read: What is Pakistan’s 27th Amendment? Gives military more power, people say ‘death of justice’
‘Munir is mentally unstable’
Former Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has labelled Munir ‘mentally unstable’.
“There is no rule of the Constitution or the law in our country at this time. Instead, it is under the rule of ‘Asim Law’. Asim Munir is the most tyrannical dictator in history and is mentally unstable,” he wrote on X.
In a Dawn article, former ambassador to US, UK Maleeha Lodhi wrote that the amendment delivers a new blow to democracy by emasculating judiciary.
“Every indicator of democracy has shown regression. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber-stamp, freedom of assembly restricted, opposition suppressed, media controlled, independence of the judiciary compromised and the civil-military balance skewed to the latter’s advantage by a ruling coalition happy to act as a subservient junior ‘partner’,” she added.
Amid these big bang changes that are likely to further weaken the constitutional structures, Pakistanis are using humour as a coping mechanism.
“Year 2035: Asim Munir just established a new position called Chiefest Chief of all the National Strategic Security and Armed Forces and Navy and Airforce and AI and bombs and patakhay and the King of your Heart… and appointed himself”, X user ‘@rantspakistani’ wrote.
Another predicted the next amendment: “Coming Soon 28th Amendment: No one can question Field Marshal in Qabar.”
Pakistani journalist Waqas was at his sarcastic best: “My favorite thing about the 27th Amendment is that it has clearly defined how the field marshal can be removed from his post. This will be useful someday.”
He was joined by author Nadeem Farooq Paracha.
“Judicial populism — often glorified and flexed as ‘judicial independence’ — has finally been laid to rest by the 27th Amendment. From 2010, many judges played havoc with the country’s judiciary and politics. Good riddance!” he wrote on X.
Then came the disillusionment.
“If you’re a Pakistani who has even the slightest opportunity to go abroad, take it. This country has a very dark future ahead. Leave before it’s too late, you’ll regret it if you don’t,” X user Noor wrote.
But perhaps no one was more disenchanted than Pakistani X user Fakhar Rehman, who countered the amendment by invoking god.
“The immunity law is in direct clash with the Quran and Sunnah. No one can be given immunity. Accountability is a divine law, one is accountable herein and hereafter,” he wrote on X.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)