Pakistan rages against UN body for questioning amendment that gives Munir unfettered power

Asim Munir

Pakistan slammed the United Nations high commissioner for human rights for raising concerns over the recently adopted Constitutional amendment that empower Field Marshal Asim Munir bringing him under a protective shield that is beyond any legal scrutiny.

Munir had earlier faced intense criticism over the move to elevate himself to Field Marshal just after facing setback under Operation Sindoor launched by India to avenge Pahalgam terror attack. His nuclear and religious rhetoric have been closely scrutinized in strategic circles for pushing Pakistan on a perilous path.

“Pakistan notes with deep concern the ungrounded and misplaced apprehensions aired on behalf of the UN high commissioner for human rights regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment adopted by the two-third majority of the parliament of Pakistan,” the press release by the FO said.

The foreign office, while commenting that Pakistan stays committed to maintaining human rights and dignity, said that all legislations are the sole prerogative of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan.

“Like all parliamentary democracies, all legislation as well as any amendment to the Constitution remain the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan,” it added.

The 27th amendment to Pakistan's Constitution creates a new federal court to deal with constitutional matters and establishes the office of "Chief of Defence Forces" thereby elevating Asim Munir to the most powerful person in Pakistan.

The amendment has faced all-round opposition within Pakistan with political parties terming it as an assault that will shake "the foundation of the Constitution".

“Democratic institutions have been paralysed within Pakistan… the nation must step up against the [proposed] 27th Amendment,” Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said in a statement.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, raised questions over the 'hastily' adopted Constitutional amendments that threaten the judicial impartiality in Pakistan and provide sweeping immunity to top military political and military brass labeling them as a threat to democratic oversight and human rights.

“These changes, taken together, risk subjugating the judiciary to political interference and executive control,” said Türk.

Under the 27th amendment to Pakistan's Constitution, a Federal Constitutional Court will deal with cases relating to the constitution leaving the Supreme Court only for civil and criminal cases.

Türk expressed grave concerns over the manner in which judges are appointed, promoted and transferred. "The first Chief Justice of the FCC and the first set of FCC judges have been already assigned by the President on the advice of the Prime Minster," the release from the office of the UN high commissioner of human rights read.

He also referred to last year's 26th Constitutional amendment that was hastily adopted without public or legal consultations. He stated that such unilateral actions go against the fundamental principle of separation of powers that underpins democracy and safeguards human rights.

On the immunity to Field Marshal and other top military officials, Türk remarked: "These sweeping immunity clauses erode the foundation of democratic oversight and human rights."