Pakistan’s Senate has approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment, igniting controversy and protests from opposition parties. The amendment seeks to reform the judiciary and strengthen the military command by creating a new post of Chief of Defence Forces and setting up a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

Former Senator Afrasiab Khattak condemned the changes, saying they institutionalize the Chief of Defence Forces position and grant Army Chief General Asim Munir a lifetime five-star rank with immunity from criminal prosecution and arrest, similar to that of the President. Khattak lamented that Pakistan was “on a journey to nowhere,” writing on X that the 1973 federal-democratic constitution has effectively ended. He remarked, “Welcome to the militarised constitution 2025, passed by an unelected parliament. Pakistan is on a journey to nowhere yet again.”

The new FCC will have exclusive authority over constitutional interpretation, reducing the Supreme Court’s power. Its Chief Justice will also serve longer than the Supreme Court’s, further sidelining the latter in key constitutional issues. The Senate passed the bill swiftly on November 10, 2025, after the opposition boycotted the debate. It now awaits approval in the National Assembly.

Under the proposed amendment, the Field Marshal will enjoy full immunity from legal action, similar to the President’s protection under Article 248, unless constitutional obligations are breached. This protection would extend to other top military officials and reaffirm immunity for the President. Critics warn that the amendment erodes judicial independence and consolidates military power, while supporters argue it modernizes governance and boosts institutional efficiency. Opposition leaders have pledged to block the bill in the National Assembly and stage nationwide protests.