Pakistani Parliament's Vote on Army Chief's Powers: A Blow to Democracy?
Pakistan's parliament has passed a contentious constitutional amendment that grants the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers, including lifelong legal immunity. The move has been met with widespread criticism from opposition lawmakers and civil society activists, who argue it undermines democracy and establishes a de facto military rule.
The amendment gives Munir the role of Chief of Defence Forces, overseeing all three branches of Pakistan's armed forces, as well as granting him immunity from prosecution for life. This, critics say, erodes civilian supremacy and creates an unaccountable power structure.
Under the new arrangement, judges will be selected by the executive, with the president having sole discretion over their transfer, effectively removing any checks on judicial independence. The supreme court's powers are also significantly curtailed, paving the way for a potential dictatorship.
The move is seen as a significant blow to Pakistan's fragile democracy, which has been vulnerable to military intervention since its establishment in 1947. Opposition parties and civil society groups have long argued that the military should remain subordinate to civilian authority, but Munir's growing influence has made this increasingly difficult.
Critics argue that the amendment serves only to consolidate military rule and push Pakistan further towards authoritarianism. The ruling coalition government justified the change as a means of modernizing the military and judiciary, but opponents say it is nothing more than an attempt to entrench the military's grip on power.
The passage of this amendment has sparked widespread concern, with many fearing for the future of democracy in Pakistan. As the country struggles to establish a stable and accountable government, this move threatens to undermine any remaining democratic institutions.
In a statement, constitutional lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed described the amendment as "completely destroying any notion of independence in the judiciary". The amendment has sparked outrage among lawyers and civil society activists, who have launched protests and condemned the move as a tampering with the constitution.
Pakistan's parliament has passed a contentious constitutional amendment that grants the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, unprecedented powers, including lifelong legal immunity. The move has been met with widespread criticism from opposition lawmakers and civil society activists, who argue it undermines democracy and establishes a de facto military rule.
The amendment gives Munir the role of Chief of Defence Forces, overseeing all three branches of Pakistan's armed forces, as well as granting him immunity from prosecution for life. This, critics say, erodes civilian supremacy and creates an unaccountable power structure.
Under the new arrangement, judges will be selected by the executive, with the president having sole discretion over their transfer, effectively removing any checks on judicial independence. The supreme court's powers are also significantly curtailed, paving the way for a potential dictatorship.
The move is seen as a significant blow to Pakistan's fragile democracy, which has been vulnerable to military intervention since its establishment in 1947. Opposition parties and civil society groups have long argued that the military should remain subordinate to civilian authority, but Munir's growing influence has made this increasingly difficult.
Critics argue that the amendment serves only to consolidate military rule and push Pakistan further towards authoritarianism. The ruling coalition government justified the change as a means of modernizing the military and judiciary, but opponents say it is nothing more than an attempt to entrench the military's grip on power.
The passage of this amendment has sparked widespread concern, with many fearing for the future of democracy in Pakistan. As the country struggles to establish a stable and accountable government, this move threatens to undermine any remaining democratic institutions.
In a statement, constitutional lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed described the amendment as "completely destroying any notion of independence in the judiciary". The amendment has sparked outrage among lawyers and civil society activists, who have launched protests and condemned the move as a tampering with the constitution.
I'm really worried about Pakistan's democracy right now... Like, they're basically giving the army chief more powers than even the president has? 
It's so unfair that opposition parties are getting roasted for speaking out against this amendment. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about - having a say in how your country is run?
There needs to be some checks and balances in place, you know?
The international community should be keeping an eye on this, too - there are some serious concerns about human rights and the rule of law.
I mean, granting the army chief basically unchallenged power is not exactly what I'd call good governance 
. The thought of some dude being above the law and judges being handpicked by the president is just a recipe for disaster 
. We need to keep our democracy strong and accountable, you know? 
It's like, the military should be there to protect us, not run the show 
. I'm all about keeping things balanced and fair in life 
... this amendment is just way off base 
.
. i mean wut kinda country r we livin in wen u can't even hold ppl in power accountable? 
dey r talkin bout eroding civilian supremacy & creatin an unaccountable powa struktur 
. and now juz when u think it cudsnt get worse, dey r plannin 2 appoint judges by the executive w/o no checks & balances 
i mean wut can we do wen we dont hv enough democratic institutions to back us up? 
. Allowing the army chief to have lifetime immunity and control over the judiciary is like giving them superpowers... but not in a cool way 
, more like in a "I'm gonna rule with an iron fist" kind of way 
But I guess when you give someone "lifetime immunity", they're like, "Oh no worries, I'll just do whatever I want and you can't touch me" 
.
That would be a whole other can of worms!
. I hope the opposition can come together and fight this before it's too late 
. but at the same time, i feel for those protesting and advocating for checks and balances... they're just trying to keep Pakistan from becoming another authoritarian regime 
this is really concerning and I'm not sure how Pakistan's democracy will survive this move. 
what if he becomes dictator? 
that would be so bad for democracy in pakistan
.
. And what about checks and balances? Those are meant to prevent abuses of power, but now it seems like they don't apply 
.
.