Pakistan's parliament has voted to give army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir new powers and lifetime immunity from arrest and prosecution, a move that critics say paves the way towards autocracy.
The 27th constitutional amendment, which was signed into law on Thursday, will also make significant changes to the way the country's top courts operate.
Those defending the changes say they provide clarity and administrative structure to the armed forces while helping to ease a backlog in the courts.
Pakistan's military has long played a prominent role in the nuclear-armed country's politics - sometimes seizing power in coups and, on other occasions, pulling levers behind the scenes.
Throughout its history, Pakistan has oscillated from more civilian autonomy to overt control under military leaders like General Pervez Musharraf and General Zia-ul-Haq. Analysts refer to the balance between civilian and military as hybrid rule.
Some see the amendment as a sign that the balance is shifting in the military's favour.
According to Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center's South Asia Institute in Washington, This amendment is the latest indication, perhaps the strongest yet, that Pakistan is now experiencing not a hybrid system, but a post-hybrid system. He notes that the civil-military imbalance is severely tilted towards military rule.
This amendment means Munir, who has been army chief since November 2022, will now also oversee Pakistan's navy and air force, with his military title and responsibilities being lifelong.
Those in support of the bill claim it clarifies Pakistan's military command structure, while critics contend that it cedes an alarming degree of power to the military.
The second area of concern pertains to changes in the judiciary, including the establishment of a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to handle constitutional questions, with judges appointed by the president. Critics argue this undermines individuals' rights to a fair trial and places the judiciary under executive control.
Justice Athar Minallah highlighted the detrimental effects of the amendment in his resignation letter, stating, The constitution that I swore an oath to uphold and defend is no more.
As the landscape of governance in Pakistan shifts, many express fears that the latest reforms signal an unprecedented move toward authoritarianism, stifling the checks and balances vital for maintaining democratic norms in the country.
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