Pakistani Parliament Unveils Constitutionally Protected Power for Army Chief, Undermining Democracy
In a shocking move, Pakistan's parliament has passed a constitutional amendment granting the country's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers. The legislation, which was overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, will grant Munir lifelong legal immunity and expand his authority to oversee not just the army but also the navy and air force.
Critics have described the move as a "funeral for democracy," saying it undermines the country's fragile democratic institutions and paves the way for a military dictatorship. The amendment has been hailed by proponents of the government as a necessary step to modernize and streamline the military, but critics say it is nothing more than an attempt to consolidate power.
The immunity granted to Munir has raised concerns about his accountability and independence from civilian oversight. According to Aqil Shah, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University, "this makes a mockery of the principle of civilian supremacy by placing him above all reproach." The move also substantially undermines the powers of the supreme court, which is the only remaining check on executive power.
Under the amendment, a new federal constitutional court will be established above the supreme court, where judges will be selected by the executive. This move has been criticized for undermining any semblance of an independent judiciary and creating a system that is vulnerable to manipulation.
The decision has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties and civil society activists. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party boycotted the vote, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the amendment. In a joint letter, more than 100 lawyers and civil society activists called the amendment "tampering with the constitution" and said there had been "no meaningful debate or engagement with members of the legal community, judiciary, and civil society."
The move has raised concerns about Pakistan's trajectory towards authoritarianism, which is a concern for many in the country. Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has spent decades under full military dictatorships when military generals suspended the constitution altogether.
Asim Munir's rise to power has been marked by controversy and criticism from opposition parties. The army chief's unprecedented meetings with US President Donald Trump have raised eyebrows and sparked debate about his level of influence over Pakistani politics.
The ruling coalition government justifies the amendment as a way to ensure modernization and efficiency in the military and judiciary, but critics say it is an attempt to consolidate power and undermine democratic institutions.
In a shocking move, Pakistan's parliament has passed a constitutional amendment granting the country's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers. The legislation, which was overwhelmingly approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, will grant Munir lifelong legal immunity and expand his authority to oversee not just the army but also the navy and air force.
Critics have described the move as a "funeral for democracy," saying it undermines the country's fragile democratic institutions and paves the way for a military dictatorship. The amendment has been hailed by proponents of the government as a necessary step to modernize and streamline the military, but critics say it is nothing more than an attempt to consolidate power.
The immunity granted to Munir has raised concerns about his accountability and independence from civilian oversight. According to Aqil Shah, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University, "this makes a mockery of the principle of civilian supremacy by placing him above all reproach." The move also substantially undermines the powers of the supreme court, which is the only remaining check on executive power.
Under the amendment, a new federal constitutional court will be established above the supreme court, where judges will be selected by the executive. This move has been criticized for undermining any semblance of an independent judiciary and creating a system that is vulnerable to manipulation.
The decision has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties and civil society activists. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party boycotted the vote, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the amendment. In a joint letter, more than 100 lawyers and civil society activists called the amendment "tampering with the constitution" and said there had been "no meaningful debate or engagement with members of the legal community, judiciary, and civil society."
The move has raised concerns about Pakistan's trajectory towards authoritarianism, which is a concern for many in the country. Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has spent decades under full military dictatorships when military generals suspended the constitution altogether.
Asim Munir's rise to power has been marked by controversy and criticism from opposition parties. The army chief's unprecedented meetings with US President Donald Trump have raised eyebrows and sparked debate about his level of influence over Pakistani politics.
The ruling coalition government justifies the amendment as a way to ensure modernization and efficiency in the military and judiciary, but critics say it is an attempt to consolidate power and undermine democratic institutions.
... they're basically saying goodbye to democracy in pakistan. giving army chief lifetime immunity? that's just ridiculous 
... what's next? a president for life too? 
... people are already calling it an "authoritarian move" and i gotta agree 
... how can u modernize the military by undermining its own checks and balances? 
... Pakistan's always had a tough time with democracy, but this takes the cake 
... they're basically paving the way for another military dictatorship, which is just a recipe for disaster 
... don't even get me started on the new federal constitutional court 
... sounds like just another excuse for the government to stick its nose into every aspect of pakistani life 
...
it's like they're trying to undermine democracy and create a system where one person is in charge. not cool, pakistan 
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. I hope there are still people in Pakistan who speak out against this move and push for real reform. We need to make sure that democracy is protected and not undermined by those in power 
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. It's sad to see Pakistan moving away from these principles, but I still have hope that something will change for the better 
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. Can we all just agree to disagree? 
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now it's just gonna be another one? 
and what about asim munir's meetings with trump? does that have something to do with this move or was that just a coincidence? 
. At the same time, I want to acknowledge that Pakistan faces some serious challenges - corruption, poverty, inequality... it's not easy to fix everything. Maybe this is just a necessary evil to get some progress happening?