Islamabad: It has always been the Army that has called the shots in Pakistan and in a latest move, it seems to have arm-twisted the government into introducing the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate, which proposes major changes to the country’s military command structure and constitutional framework.
Dawn has reported that the wide-ranging bill, tabled on Saturday, seeks to abolish the office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), and introduce a new post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), effectively placing the Army Chief at the top of Pakistan’s armed forces.
This proposed amendment will rewrite Article 243 of Pakistan’s constitution, which governs the control and command of the armed forces.
Once the Bill gets passed, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) would also serve concurrently as the CDF, making him the constitutionally recognised head of all three services — the Army, Navy and Air Force, Dawn has reported.
Another key feature of the amendment is the creation of a Commander of National Strategic Command, responsible for overseeing Pakistan’s nuclear and strategic assets.
This position would also be filled by an officer from the Army, appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the CDF.
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, who got himself elevated to the rank of Field Marshal earlier this year, has also ensured that he gets lifelong constitutional protection. Once the Bill is passed, officers promoted to the five-star ranks of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, or Marshal of the Sea, will be allowed to retain their rank, privileges and uniform for life.
According to Dawn, such officers would only be removable through a parliamentary procedure similar to impeachment, as outlined in Article 47 of Pakistan’s constitution, and would enjoy immunities comparable to those of the President.
Pakistan’s minister for law and justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the legislation aimed to modernise the command structure and regularise recent developments within the armed forces, while tabling the Bill. Munir had been awarded the title of Field Marshal, which, under the proposed amendment, would be formally recognised in the Constitution, he added.
This title was honorary and for life, with Parliament — not the Prime Minister — empowered to revoke it, if necessary.
The minister also confirmed that the office of the CJCSC would be abolished on November 27, when the tenure of the incumbent, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, comes to an end. No new appointment would be made to that post thereafter, as the CDF would take over its functions, Dawn reported.
Upon completion of command duties, Pakistan’s federal government would determine the future responsibilities and privileges of any officer holding a five-star rank in the interest of the state, Tarar added.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns that the amendment could further consolidate power within the military establishment and weaken civilian oversight of defence affairs.
After being tabled in the Senate, the bill was referred to Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate Standing Committees on Law and Justice for joint review and consideration.
Dawn reported that during the joint committee session, two members of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza, boycotted the meeting, stating that the draft included provisions that had been previously discarded in the 26th Amendment Bill.
Following initial deliberations, the committees adjourned their session until Sunday for further discussion.
If enacted, the 27th Constitutional Amendment would grant unbridled power to the Pakistan Army.
