KARACHI, Nov 12 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s parliament approved a constitutional amendment on Wednesday to expand the powers of the army chief and curb the remit of its Supreme Court, a move that critics said had done irreparable harm to the country’s democracy.
The lower house of parliament approved the legislation with a more than two-thirds majority, with only four lawmakers voting against.
The upper house passed the bill two days earlier after the opposition boycotted the debate — an unusually swift passage for a constitutional change. Such amendments usually require weeks or months of consideration. The amendment will become law once signed by the president, a formality.
Army chief Asim Munir will now be elevated to the new post of Chief of Defence Forces, placing the navy and air force under his command in addition to the army. After completion of his term, he will retain his rank and have legal immunity for life.
MILITARY MIGHT, JUDICIAL BITE
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the amendment as a step toward institutional harmony and national unity.
“If we’ve made this part of the Constitution today, it’s not just about the field marshal,” Sharif said, adding that it also recognised the air force and navy. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked the speaker. “Nations honour their heroes … We know how to show and earn respect to our heroes.”
Critics say the changes concentrate power in the hands of the military and the ruling coalition.
Under the amendment, constitutional cases will move from the Supreme Court to a new Federal Constitutional Court, whose judges will be appointed by the government. In recent years, the Supreme Court has blocked government policies and ousted prime ministers.
Opposition lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by jailed former premier Imran Khan, walked out before the vote and tore up copies of the bill in protest, saying they had not been consulted.
“None of the parliamentarians cared about democracy and the judiciary being eliminated. They have voted for being a silent observer whilst the country becomes a banana republic,” PTI spokesman Zulfikar Bukhari said. “Rest in peace constitution of Pakistan.”
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