ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday signed into law the 27th constitutional amendment that seeks major changes to the command structure of the country’s powerful military and judiciary.
The development took place a day after Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed the amendments with a two-thirds majority, only four legislators voting against it. The president gave his assent to the bill after the Senate approved the bill on Thursday, voting on it for a second time amid protests by the opposition. Sixty-four votes were cast for the bill and four against it.
“The Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025, is assented to, as advised by the prime minister, at para 5 of the summary,” a copy of the notification from the president’s house read.
According to Pakistani law, a constitutional amendment needs to be passed by both houses of parliament with a two-thirds majority. For the bill to formally become law, it must then be assented to by the president.
The amendments elevate Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir to the post of Chief of Defense Forces, making him the constitutionally recognized head of the armed forces services.
They also call for the formation of a Federal Constitutional Court, which will decide constitutional cases instead of the Supreme Court.
Critics say the move will clip the judiciary’s power, considering the judges of the Constitutional Court will be appointed by the government.
In recent years, Pakistan’s government has clashed with the Supreme Court, with the judiciary blocking some of the government’s policies and ousting prime ministers from office.
Pakistan’s government, however, says the reforms are necessary to improve governance and dispense speedy justice to the masses by reducing the Supreme Court’s burden.
In a separate statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the federal cabinet approved amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, Pakistan Air Force Act and the Pakistan Navy Act.
“The purpose of these amendments is to align the laws concerning the Armed Forces of Pakistan with the 27th Constitutional Amendment,” the PMO said.
“Based on the changes made to Article 243 of the Constitution, necessary legislation has been carried out, which also includes provisions related to the tenure of the Chief of Defense Forces.”
The PMO said that under these amendments, the position of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished after the current chairman’s retirement.
Similarly, the ranks of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet have been included in these laws.
The cabinet also approved the draft of the Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Act, 2025.
