Field Marshal forever? Sharif govt plans constitutional cover to secure Asim Munir’s extended rule

Demonstrators carrying posters with portraits of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir shout slogans as they participate in an anti-India protest in Lahore on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)

Pakistan’s uneasy civil-military balance appears set for another confrontation as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government reportedly prepares to push through the 27th Constitutional Amendment — a move widely seen as designed to secure the position and power of Field Marshal Asim Munir, the current Chief of Army Staff.

According to a CNN-News18 report, the amendment seeks to clarify the tenure and legal status of Munir, who was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal earlier this year. Officially, Munir’s term as army chief ends on November 28, 2025. Yet confusion persists over whether his new rank allows him to continue until 2027 or whether another formal extension will be required.

The roots of this legal fog go back to 2024, when Pakistan’s service chiefs were granted five-year tenures instead of three through a controversial legal reform. However, the rank of Field Marshal has no defined place in Pakistan’s Constitution or the Army Act. The post is largely ceremonial and has never before been codified in law. This absence of legal clarity has now prompted Sharif’s government to consider amending the Constitution to formalise Munir’s position and secure his continuation in office.

Government moves to protect Munir’s authority

Officials familiar with the discussions told CNN-News18 that the Prime Minister’s Office and GHQ Rawalpindi have held a series of high-level consultations to prevent what they describe as a “constitutional vacuum” once Munir’s scheduled retirement date arrives. The Pakistan Army Act and Article 243 of the Constitution define the command structure of the armed forces but make no mention of a Field Marshal’s powers, tenure, or retirement.

The proposed 27th Amendment reportedly seeks to amend Article 243 to include and legally recognise the rank of Field Marshal, effectively giving it constitutional protection. If passed, the amendment would grant Munir an extended and secure tenure, insulating his position from legal or political challenges. Critics view the move as another instance of Pakistan’s military tightening its grip on the country’s civilian institutions.

Sweeping amendments beyond military tenure

According to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the amendment package is not limited to defining Munir’s service conditions. “The government also aims to introduce provisions relating to constitutional courts, the restoration of executive magistrates, and the transfer of judges,” Bilawal said.

More controversially, the proposed amendment would transfer control over mines and minerals from provincial authorities to the federal government. This clause has triggered alarm among opposition leaders and provincial administrations, who see it as an attempt to undermine provincial autonomy guaranteed under the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework.

Analysts say the change could allow Islamabad to consolidate control over lucrative natural resources in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The move would make it easier for the federal government to negotiate mining and investment contracts directly with the United States and China, sidestepping local governments.

Opposition sees power grab disguised as reform

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has sought PPP’s support for the sweeping constitutional package. However, opposition parties argue that the amendment is less about legal clarity and more about political control. They believe it will centralise power in Islamabad, weaken the federal structure, and shield Asim Munir’s position from any civilian oversight.

Critics say this is yet another example of Pakistan’s civilian leadership bending to the military establishment. The proposed amendment, they argue, would effectively enshrine military dominance into the Constitution while using other reform clauses as a smokescreen.

Civil-military divide deepens

The move to constitutionally protect Munir’s position comes amid rising political and institutional strain in Islamabad. Relations between the army and the civilian government remain tense despite Shehbaz Sharif’s attempts to project unity. By pushing through a constitutional amendment to safeguard Munir’s authority, the government risks further eroding its credibility and reinforcing the army’s unchecked influence over the state.

Observers warn that if passed, the 27th Amendment would mark a dangerous precedent, turning a ceremonial military title into a constitutionally protected office and effectively blurring the already fragile line between Pakistan’s civilian and military domains.

As CNN-News18 noted, this proposed legislation could become one of the most significant steps in recent years to institutionalise the military’s dominance in Pakistan’s power structure. For a country that has spent decades oscillating between civilian rule and military oversight, the 27th Amendment might just tip the balance permanently in favour of the generals.