Archive · 30 Nov 2025
Pakistan Defends 27th Constitutional Amendment Amid UN Concerns
Pakistan recently passed a big change to its constitution called the 27th amendment.
This change includes creating a new top military leader and setting up a new court, while also reducing some powers of the Supreme Court.
The UN and a local human rights group are worried that these changes might make the courts less independent and could be bad for democracy.
Pakistan's government says these changes are their own business and that they are committed to human rights.
Some political parties are protesting against the amendment, saying it's not fair and might stop them from participating in elections.
Pakistan dismissed UN concerns over the 27th constitutional amendment as baseless and unwarranted.
The amendment proposes abolishing the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and creating a Chief of Defence Forces.
It also aims to establish a Federal Constitutional Court and limit the powers of the Supreme Court.
Opposition parties and human rights groups have expressed concerns over the amendment's impact on judicial independence and democratic processes.
Protests were held across Pakistan, with demonstrators calling for the withdrawal of the 27th amendment.
- Who
- Pakistan's government, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), opposition parties (PTI, TTAP)
- What
- Pakistan's 27th constitutional amendment and international reactions to it
- When
- Recent events, with the amendment approved earlier this month and protests held earlier in November
- Where
- Pakistan, with protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Karachi
- Why
- The amendment aims to restructure military leadership and judicial powers, sparking concerns about judicial independence and democratic processes
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Volker Turk
- Constitutional Amendment
- 27th
- Amendment Proposals
- Abolish Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee; Create Chief of Defence Forces; Establish Federal Constitutional Court; Limit Supreme Court powers
- Opposition Parties
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP)
- Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
- Expressed concern over threats to democracy and judicial independence