ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s parliament approved a sweeping constitutional amendment on Thursday (Nov 13) granting lifetime immunity to the president as well as the current army chief, a move critics warned would erode democratic checks and judicial independence.
The 27th amendment, passed by a two-thirds majority, also consolidates military power under a new Chief of Defence Forces role and establishes a Federal Constitutional Court.
The changes grant army chief Asim Munir, promoted to field marshal after Pakistan’s clash with India in May, command over the army, air force and the navy.
He and other top military brass will enjoy lifelong protections.
Under the amendment, any officer promoted to field marshal, marshal of the air force, or admiral of the fleet will now retain rank and privileges for life, remain in uniform, and enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings.
Such protections were previously only reserved for the head of state.
“This constitutional amendment will increase authoritarianism and whatever little semblance of democracy existed in this country will fade away,” said Osama Malik, an Islamabad-based lawyer.
“It will not only remove civilian oversight from the military’s activities, it will also completely destroy the military hierarchy where all service chiefs were considered equal under the joint chief system,” he told AFP.
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of more than 250 million people, has long struggled to balance civilian authority with the military’s role in politics.
The amendment also shields President Asif Ali Zardari from any criminal prosecution, although that immunity will not apply if he or any other former president later holds another public office.
Zardari has faced multiple graft cases, although proceedings were previously stayed.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/pakistan-grants-lifetime-immunity-president-current-army-chief-5465206
