Legal immunity, command of tri-forces…: How 27th amendment makes Army Chief Asim Munir most powerful person in Pakistan; he can now…

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government has passed the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment in the country’s Parliament, granting sweeping powers to the Pakistan’s military establishment and life-long legal immunity to Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is now poised to become the de facto ruler of the country for life.

How Asim Munir is now most powerful person in Pakistan?

Apart from life-long legal immunity to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, the constitutional amendment also exponentially expands his powers, and grants him the title of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), essentially making him the head of Pakistan tri-forces– the army, navy, and the air force.

The sweeping powers place Asim Munir at the centre of Pakistan’s defence structure, giving the army chief broader constitutional recognition and much more influence than any of his predecessors. According to analysts, the Pakistan Army Chief now wields the authority to decide on launching a hot war against rival countries such as India(BHARAT) or Afghanistan, without requiring explicit consent from the civilian government, including the Prime Minister or the President.

The amendment bill also preserves honorary military titles such as Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet as lifetime designations, and General Asim Munir will now also hold the title of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), making the position the formal head of Pakistan’s army, navy, and air force redundant as they will be subservient to his command.

When was the bill passed?

The 59-clause 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was approved by the National Assembly (Pakistani Parliament) on Thursday with more than a two-thirds majority, with 234 lawmakers voting in favour and only four opposing it, days atter it was passed in the Senate with 64 votes in favour with no opposition votes as opposition benches boycotted proceedings, according to Dawn.

The bill will now be sent back to the Senate for reconsideration of minor amendments, after which it will move to President Asif Ali Zardari for assent, the report said.

How new law curbs judicial independence?

Beyond granting sweeping powers to the Pakistani military, the controversial bill places significant curbs on the Supreme Court of Pakistan by establishing a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to handle constitutional cases, effectively reducing the Supreme Court’s role, which has in recent years, acted as bulwark against government overreach by blocking unconstitutional policies and even removed sitting prime ministers.

As per Dawn, while the current officeholder will retain the title of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), but in future, the CJP will be defined as the senior-most judge among the chief justices of both the Supreme Court and the new FCC.

The FCC will also be barred from ratifying acts of high treason, a clause critics say shields state institutions, including the military, from accountability.

What did opposition say?

Meanwhile, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly opposed the amendment bill, staging a walkout from the House before the vote, and tearing up copies of the bill in protest.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the government had “sunk the ship of democracy and judicial independence.”

“They introduced another amendment that we’re only seeing for the first time. In Article 260, there are definitions for everything… but they added a new subclause without due debate,” Gohar said, even as PM Shehbaz Sharif claimed the parliament had shown “solidarity and national unity” by passing the bill without any opposition.

Earlier reports suggested that the Shehbaz Sharif government was planning to amend the Pakistani Constitution to usher in what it calls a “civil-military” rule in the country, effectively legitimizing the Pakistan Army’s control of the civilian government, and paving the way for Army Chief Asim Munir to remain in power for life, akin to a dictator.