Pakistan’s parliament on Wednesday approved a landmark constitutional amendment expanding the powers of the military and reducing the authority of the Supreme Court.
The legislation, passed with a two-thirds majority, creates a new post of Chief of Defence Forces to be assumed by Army Chief Asim Munir, giving him formal control over the army, navy, and air force, Reuters reported.
The amendment also grants him lifelong legal immunity and allows him to retain his rank even after retirement.
Introduced by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and approved a day after its passage in the Senate, the bill marks one of Pakistan’s most significant constitutional changes in years. It was supported by 234 lawmakers, with only four voting against, as members of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the proceedings and tore up copies of the bill in protest.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were present during the vote, which now awaits presidential approval from Asif Ali Zardari, expected later Wednesday.
Under the new framework, the President will appoint both the Army Chief and the Chief of Defence Forces on the Prime Minister’s advice, while the post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, will be scrapped by November 2025.
The Chief of Defence Forces will oversee all three services, effectively making the Army Chief the top commander of Pakistan’s military. The amendment also enables the government to confer lifetime honorary ranks such as Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet.
