Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Pakistan Passes 27th Constitutional Amendment, Consolidating Military Power
Pakistan's Constitution is like a rulebook for the country.
A new rule, the 27th Amendment, was recently added.
This new rule gives a lot more power to the army and its leader.
The army chief will now be the Chief of Defence Forces, in charge of all military services for five years.
High-ranking soldiers get to avoid going to jail for actions they take.
The army also gets more control over the country's nuclear weapons.
The rulebook also changes how the courts work.
A new court will handle big rule questions, making the main Supreme Court less powerful and mostly dealing with regular crimes.
Some people think this makes the army too powerful and like a military government.
This is happening after the army has taken control many times before, changing the country.
Pakistan's Parliament passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment in November 2025, increasing military authority.
A new Chief of Defence Forces position is created, consolidating command and granting significant powers to the Army Chief.
Legal immunity is granted to senior military officers for actions taken in the line of duty.
The amendment establishes a Federal Constitutional Court, reducing the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over constitutional matters.
Critics argue the amendment further entrenches military authoritarianism and erodes democratic institutions and judicial independence.
- Who
- Pakistan's military, led by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir; the Parliament; the Prime Minister; the Supreme Court; legal experts; constitutional scholars.
- What
- Passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which establishes a Chief of Defence Forces with extensive powers, grants immunity to senior military ranks, restructures nuclear command, and creates a Federal Constitutional Court, diminishing the Supreme Court's authority.
- When
- November 2025
- Where
- Pakistan
- Why
- To further institutionalize military authoritarianism, consolidate military control over defense, intelligence, and nuclear assets, and dismantle judicial independence, continuing a long history of military rule.
Analyst Manish Tewari's Perspective
Implicit Military/Government Stance
Constitutional Changes and Military Power
Analyst Manish Tewari's Perspective
The 27th Amendment institutionalizes military authoritarianism, creates a Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) with supreme command and a fixed five-year tenure, grants immunity to senior military ranks, and restructures nuclear command under the military. This represents the culmination of decades of military rule and dictatorship.
Implicit Military/Government Stance
The amendment establishes a new military command and judicial structure, including a constitutionally recognized position of Chief of Defence Forces, and streamlines nuclear command, implying a move towards greater efficiency and control within the existing constitutional framework.
Judicial Independence
Analyst Manish Tewari's Perspective
The amendment systematically dismantles judicial independence by creating a Federal Constitutional Court, reducing the Supreme Court's role, and shifting judicial appointments to the Prime Minister, thereby subordinating the judiciary to executive authority and ending judicial oversight of military power.
Implicit Military/Government Stance
The amendment restructures judicial matters by creating a Federal Constitutional Court to handle constitutional issues, while the Supreme Court continues to handle civil and criminal appeals, suggesting a division of labor rather than an elimination of judicial functions.
Historical Context and Military's Role
Analyst Manish Tewari's Perspective
Pakistan's history is marked by military coups and dictatorships (Ayub, Yahya, Zia, Musharraf) that have militarized its polity, eroded democracy, and led to economic exploitation and social division, with the military controlling vast economic enterprises and using terrorist organizations as foreign policy tools.
Implicit Military/Government Stance
While acknowledging historical military involvement, the amendment is presented as a recent legislative act by Parliament, suggesting an evolution within the country's governance structure, rather than a continuation of past authoritarianism.
Social and Economic Impact
Analyst Manish Tewari's Perspective
The military's actions have eroded social cohesion through Islamization, sectarianism, and repression, weaponized ethnic divisions, and created a security state. Military economic enterprises operate tax-free, enriching generals while most Pakistanis live in poverty.
Implicit Military/Government Stance
The amendment's implications on social fabric and economic distribution are not explicitly addressed, implying these are separate issues not directly impacted by the constitutional changes.
- Amendment Year
- 2025
- Amendment Number
- 27th Constitutional Amendment
- New Military Position
- Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), merging with Chief of Army Staff
- CDF Tenure
- Fixed tenure of five years
- Immunity Granted
- CDF from legal/political challenge; Five-star ranks lifetime immunity from criminal proceedings
- Judicial Restructuring
- Creation of Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) for constitutional matters
- Supreme Court's New Role
- Handles civil and criminal appeals
- Previous Amendment Mentioned
- 26th Amendment (October 2024) regarding Chief Justice appointments
Sources
Kamal Davar | Pak Army’s Sweeping Powers In New Law Puts Top Court, Govt At Field Marshal’s Mercy
What Pakistan Supreme Court judge Mansoor Ali Shah wrote in his resignation letter
27th Constitutional Amendment empowers Pakistan military, curbs SC authority: Report
