Stronger State Power
Stronger State Power: The core issue is that the 27th Constitutional Amendment accelerates Pakistan’s slide toward authoritarianism. It targets the judiciary and strengthens military power. This follows the controversial 26th Amendment, which already made the judiciary subservient to the executive. Lawyers and opposition leaders condemn the 27th Amendment. They call it a “state capture of the judiciary” and a “power grab.” They also criticize the secretive and non-transparent legislative process.
Centralizing Judicial Power
The amendment focuses on three areas to centralize power. First, it proposes a Federal Constitutional Court. Critics fear the government will “pack” the court with loyal judges. This could create a compliant judicial body. It may strip the Supreme Court of its key jurisdiction over constitutional and fundamental rights cases. Second, the amendment allows the transfer of high court judges without their consent. The executive could use this to sideline independent judges by forcing unwanted transfers.
Article 243 Changes
Crucially, the amendment modifies Article 243, concerning the command of the armed forces, to dramatically increase the power and privileges of the top military leadership. It proposes abolishing the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and creating the Chief of Defence Forces post, which the Army Chief will permanently hold. Furthermore, the highest military ranks will receive legal immunity akin to the President’s and will retain their rank and privileges for life. These changes are designed to shift the civil-military power balance decisively in favour of the military establishment.
Democracy Under Threat
This democratic erosion differs from past authoritarian periods. The establishment now directly controls political opponents, courts, media, and digital space. These interventions support a government with a weak electoral mandate. Compared to past civilian crackdowns, the government now bans protests continuously and enforces broader, harsher actions. These include raids and incommunicado detentions. The 27th Amendment is not isolated. It is a central legislative step in Pakistan’s ongoing move toward authoritarianism.
Published in Dawn, 10th November 2025
