Pakistan army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has gained sweeping new authority and lifelong legal immunity after lawmakers passed a constitutional amendment that strengthens his control over all branches of the military and weakens the judiciary’s independence, reports New York Times.
The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, approved on Wednesday, has created widespread alarm among legal experts and opposition figures, who warn that it marks a turn toward authoritarianism and further erodes Pakistan’s democratic setup.
What are the new powers?
Under the new law, Munir, whom President Trump has called his “favourite field marshal,” will soon take on the new title of Chief of Defense Forces, giving him command over the army, navy, and air force.
He and the President of Pakistan will both enjoy lifelong immunity from prosecution, shielding them from any future legal cases or challenges.
“He’s brought control of the military under himself,” said Ayesha Siddiqa, an expert on the Pakistani military to New York Times.
Pakistan, home to more than 240 million people, has long struggled to balance military and civilian authority. Since independence in 1947, the country has swung between democratic governance and military rule.
The last army chief to seize control, Pervez Musharraf, led a coup in 1999 and remained in power until 2008.
Though elected governments have since returned, the military has continued to shape politics and the economy, a reality often described as “hybrid rule.”
“The civil-military hybrid system is a misalliance and destined to the same fate as most unequal marriages,” said Shuja Nawaz, a veteran security analyst to New York Times.
The amendment also creates a new top court that will sit above Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Its judges, handpicked by the executive, will rule on constitutional and defense-related issues, while the current Supreme Court will be limited to civil and criminal matters.
“Crony judges sitting in that new court will now rubber-stamp any judgment that the government would like to get passed,” said Salahuddin Ahmed, a Karachi-based lawyer to New York Times.
Saad Rasool, another lawyer and public affairs commentator, said the move could lead to “the collapse of an independent judiciary,” to New York Times.
The law also gives the government the power to transfer judges between provinces, and any judge who refuses such a transfer will be forced to resign, further undermining judicial independence.
‘Changes are inevitable’
The ones who back the amendment, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N), say the changes are needed to modernise Pakistan’s defence structure after a border clash with India in May and to speed up judicial proceedings.
“War is changing, and the Pakistani military needs to have a robust decision-making apparatus,” said Qamar Cheema, executive director of the Sanober Institute in Islamabad to New York Times. “This new position of Chief of Defence Forces provides operational efficiency.”
The amendment passed easily — 64–0 in the Senate and 234–4 in the National Assembly — as most opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote.
Only two political parties opposed it, including that of former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned on corruption charges he claims were motivated by his criticism of the military.
With protests banned, media under pressure, and accusations of election rigging ignored, there are few voices left to challenge the growing influence of the army.
‘Munir deserved protection’
Supporters of the military argue that it remains Pakistan’s most dependable institution at a time of economic turmoil, rising poverty, and low foreign investment.
Roughly a quarter of the country now lives below the poverty line, the highest rate in nearly a decade. Munir, 57, was promoted to field marshal after Pakistan’s confrontation with India earlier this year.
Law Minister Azam Tarar defended his lifelong immunity, saying Munir deserved protection “because he is the hero of the whole nation,” Tarar told NYT.
Munir has also sought to strengthen Pakistan’s relationship with the United States. He met with President Trump twice this year, first over lunch in June and later in the Oval Office in September.
In exchange for closer ties, Pakistan has promised Washington access to key minerals and expanded counterterrorism cooperation.
US State Department reaffirmed its commitment to “advance the US-Pakistan relationship” after Pakistan’s ambassador met with Paul Kapur, the new top US diplomat for South and Central Asia.