Protests erupt as Pakistan passes 27th Amendment empowering Asim Munir: Oppn tears up bill, PTI Senator resigns

Field Marshal Asim Munir - File Photo

Pakistan’s controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment has plunged the country into political chaos, with the opposition calling it a “death blow to democracy” and “the death of justice.” The amendment, passed amid raucous protests, grants unprecedented powers and lifelong immunity to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, effectively placing him above constitutional accountability.

The bill was passed in the Senate despite fierce opposition, walkouts, and physical confrontations inside the chamber. Lawmakers from opposition parties tore up copies of the bill in protest, shouting slogans against what they called the “militarisation of Pakistan’s Constitution.” According to Dawn, the session descended into chaos as opposition senators accused the government of surrendering civilian authority to the army.

Amendment consolidates Asim Munir’s control

At the core of the amendment lies a sweeping consolidation of power. It abolishes the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and creates a new post called Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)—a position that merges command of the army, navy, and air force under the Chief of Army Staff. With Munir already serving as both Field Marshal and Army Chief, the new post gives him unified control over Pakistan’s entire military apparatus.

The amendment also enshrines lifetime privileges and immunity for Munir, ensuring that no legal proceedings can be brought against him during or after his tenure. Opposition leaders and rights groups have condemned the clause as an institutionalisation of impunity. One senior opposition figure said, “After the 27th Amendment, the Field Marshal will receive lifetime privileges, and no case can ever be filed against him for his entire life. Asim Munir is so terrified of his own misdeeds that he is erecting a protective wall around himself.”

Critics argue that the move completes Pakistan’s slide into overt military rule, stripping civilian institutions and the judiciary of any meaningful independence.

Judiciary weakened, new military court system introduced

The amendment also establishes a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) that significantly curtails the authority of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Analysts fear that this new court will act as an instrument of the executive and military establishment rather than an independent judicial body. Legal observers have described it as a “direct attack on judicial autonomy” designed to silence dissent within the judiciary.

Political fallout: PTI Senator resigns in protest

In a dramatic twist, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Saifullah Abro resigned from the Senate moments after voting in favour of the amendment. Standing on the floor of the Upper House, he declared, “If anyone is mistaken, let me say that I came here to vote for Asim Munir, not for anyone else.” His statement highlighted the deep divisions and personal loyalties shaping Pakistan’s fractured political landscape.

The senator’s resignation has further exposed the growing perception that the amendment is less a matter of governance reform and more a move to cement Munir’s personal authority.

Nationwide protests planned

Following the vote, opposition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PTI, announced plans for nationwide protests. Leaders accused the ruling coalition of violating parliamentary procedure and warned that the amendment would “bury civilian rule once and for all.” Demonstrations are expected in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad this week.

Political commentators say the amendment marks one of the darkest moments in Pakistan’s constitutional history. By effectively granting the military chief near-absolute authority, the law sidelines elected representatives and weakens the principle of civilian supremacy.

‘The death of justice’

Civil rights groups have condemned the amendment as a blatant subversion of democratic norms. Legal experts have warned that it undermines Pakistan’s judiciary and rule of law, creating a state where the army chief is beyond question, beyond prosecution, and beyond restraint.

“This is the death of justice,” said one Lahore-based constitutional lawyer. “When a single man is made untouchable by law, democracy ceases to exist. This is not reform—it is surrender.”

As opposition leaders rally supporters and international observers express alarm, Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads. The passage of the 27th Amendment has not only exposed the fragility of its institutions but also confirmed what many have long feared: that the military has reclaimed full constitutional dominance, and civilian democracy now exists only in name.