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New Delhi: Pakistan’s National Assembly passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill on November 12, which increased the powers exercised by the country's military in general, and those of its army chief, Asim Munir, in particular. Also, the influence of the judiciary has been curbed.
The vote for the bill was held in the country's lower house amid a ruckus, and 234 lawmakers voted in favour of it, with only four voting against. Top political leaders of Pakistan, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, attended the session. As the ruling coalition in the Pakistan government seeks to consolidate control over key defence and judicial institutions, PM Sharif hailed the passage of the bill as a display of national unity and solidarity.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill increases the power wielded by the Pakistan Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. It elevates him to the newly created role of Chief of Defence Forces, and he would become the constitutional head of the country's army, navy, and air force. It could make him the most powerful military officer in the history of Pakistan and grant him lifetime constitutional authority. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Pakistan's law minister, has said that the aim of the reform is "to bring constitutional oversight to defence appointments while preserving military honour and tradition."
The bill would give life-long constitutional protection to 5-star rank officers, including Field Marshal. It includes privileges, lifetime tenure, and legal immunity granted under Article 248 and protection from removal under Article 47 of Pakistan's Constitution. The bill would give the post of Field Marshal a constitutional basis and reduce the operational control of the Prime Minister and the President over the armed forces.
The bill would also create a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to deal with constitutional and provincial matters, curbing the Supreme Court's power, which would focus on civil and criminal cases. Every province would be equally represented in the FCC, and it would have the power to take suo motu notices on constitutional petitions. The Judicial Commission will oversee judge transfers, and anybody refusing transfer will be considered as retired.
