Pakistan amends Constitution granting sweeping powers to army chief

Karachi: The parliament of Pakistan approved a constitutional amendment, granting sweeping powers to its army and limiting the Supreme Court’s powers, on Wednesday. The move has led critics to slam the legislation, saying it was an irreparable harm to the nation’s democracy, Reuters reported.

When the lower house of the parliament voted a more than two-thirds majority, the upper house passed the bill two days later. Only four legislators voted against the bill in the lower house, while the opposition boycotted the debate in the upper house.

The amendment, which was passed unusually fast, when it usually requires weeks or months of consideration, will become law once the president signs it, which is a mere formality.

The new amendment will elevate Army Chief Asim Munir to the new post of Chief of Defence Forces, and the Navy and Air Force will come under his command. Munir will retain his rank after completion of his term and have legal immunity for life, according to Reuters.

Critics point out that the amendment allows power to concentrate in the hands of the military as well as the ruling coalition. The amendment mandates moving constitutional cases from the Supreme Court to a new Federal Constitutional Court. Here, the judges will be appointed by the government.

In recent years, the Supreme Court has blocked the policies of the government and removed Prime Ministers.

When critics slam the amendment, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the amendment and claimed that it is a step toward institutional harmony and national unity.

He claimed that there is nothing wrong with the amendment that nations honour their heroes and “we know how to show and earn respect to our heroes,” Reuters quoted the Prime Minister.