Islamabad— A proposed constitutional amendment in Pakistan, the 27th, has triggered a major political storm as it appears to shift the balance of power further away from civilian institutions and toward the military. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approached the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to gain its support for the amendment, which directly benefits Army Chief Asim Munir.
At the heart of the proposal is a move to alter Article 243, allowing for an extended tenure for General Asim Munir and formalising his newly granted rank of Field Marshal, which Pakistan announced after claiming a successful counter to India’s anti-terror “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025. Munir, who is due to retire on November 28, is only the second officer in Pakistan’s history to hold the title of Field Marshal, after Ayub Khan — who had conferred it upon himself in 1959 following a military coup that made him both the Chief Martial Law Administrator and the President of Pakistan.
Although there was earlier speculation that Munir could become President, replacing Asif Ali Zardari, those discussions have reportedly faded. Nonetheless, the amendment is being seen as a measure that could undo key democratic safeguards, roll back provincial autonomy, and erode the independence of the judiciary in a nation with a long history of military dominance and political instability.
A major provision of the amendment seeks to give constitutional recognition to the rank of Field Marshal, which currently has no legal standing in Pakistan’s constitutional or military framework. The move would formally define and protect the Field Marshal’s powers and tenure, effectively granting General Munir an extended and secure position at the top of Pakistan’s military structure. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, confirmed that discussions on the amendment are ongoing, stating that “the purpose of amending Article 243 is to constitutionally recognise the Field Marshal title.” He added that while talks are underway, formal drafting has not yet begun.
Observers note that Munir’s growing stature is evident internationally as well, with U.S. President Donald Trump recently referring to him as “my favourite Field Marshal” during bilateral discussions — a remark highlighting Munir’s increasing influence on Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Beyond the military implications, the proposed amendment also seeks to alter the judiciary and governance systems. It proposes the establishment of a separate Constitutional Court to interpret laws and fundamental rights, ostensibly to reduce the workload of the Supreme Court and ensure faster justice delivery. However, critics argue that it would create a parallel judicial system open to executive influence. Senior lawyer Hassan Abdullah Niazi warned that the new setup could “curtail judicial independence and allow members of the executive to operate as judges,” thus expanding the role of the military and executive in legal affairs.
Additionally, the amendment is said to contain provisions enabling the government to transfer judges through an executive-dominated mechanism — a move that legal experts fear could undermine judicial autonomy even further.
The proposal also threatens to reverse the progressive devolution of powers achieved through the landmark 18th Amendment passed in 2010, which gave more autonomy to provinces, especially in education and health sectors, and curtailed the President’s authority. Reports suggest that the federal government now aims to reclaim control over subjects such as education and population planning, centralising power once again.
While the Sharif government maintains that the amendment will only be passed after full political consensus and “will not endanger democracy,” constitutional experts remain deeply sceptical. Barrister Ali Tahir, a noted constitutional scholar, warned that “whatever remains of the existing constitutional structure is now being prepared for a complete demolition.”
If enacted, Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment could mark one of the most significant shifts in the nation’s civil-military power dynamics since Ayub Khan’s coup more than six decades ago.
