A major constitutional crisis is brewing in Pakistan as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pushes for the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment. The proposed changes have ignited a fierce political and legal debate, with critics warning the move could fundamentally shift the governance balance away from the civilian regime and further entrench the power of the military, specifically Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The PML-N delegation has reportedly reached out to coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, to secure the necessary two-thirds parliamentary support required to pass a constitutional amendment.
The Military Core: Securing Field Marshal Munir’s Position
The most politically sensitive aspect of the amendment is the proposed tweak to Article 243 of the Constitution, which currently governs the command and control of Pakistan’s armed forces.
- Extended Tenure: The amendment is widely seen as a mechanism to grant an extended tenure to the current Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, who is officially due to retire on November 28.
- Constitutional Recognition of Field Marshal: A key part of the amendment is to grant constitutional recognition to the rank of Field Marshal. Munir was elevated to this five-star rank in May 2025 after Pakistan claimed success in responding to India’s anti-terror Operation Sindoor. However, the title currently lacks any legal or constitutional standing. The amendment seeks to formally define and protect the Field Marshal’s powers and tenure, effectively securing Munir’s position and authority.
- Historical Context: Field Marshal Asim Munir is only the second officer in Pakistan’s history to hold this rank. The first was Ayub Khan, who awarded it to himself in 1959 after taking power in a military coup.
- “De Facto Ruler”: Munir, already widely viewed as the country’s de facto ruler, has been receiving equal billing with PM Shehbaz Sharif on global stages, notably with US President Donald Trump, who publicly referred to him as “my favourite Field Marshal.”
Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, confirmed the intent to constitutionally recognize the Field Marshal title via the Article 243 amendment, stating that “discussions are underway regarding the 27th Amendment, but formal work has not yet begun.”
Broader Rollback of Civilian & Provincial Rights
Critics argue that the proposed amendment goes far beyond military service terms, potentially undermining decades of hard-won democratic and judicial reforms.
| Area of Proposed Change | Critics’ Concerns |
| Judicial Structure | Plans to create a Constitutional Court separate from the Supreme Court to handle fundamental rights. Critics, like senior lawyer Hassan Abdullah Niazi, argue this would create a parallel system susceptible to political pressure, curtailing judicial independence and allowing “members of the executive to operate as judges.” |
| Judicial Autonomy | Proposals allegedly include granting the government power to transfer judges under an executive-dominated body. |
| Provincial Autonomy | The amendment seeks to reverse key features of the landmark 18th Amendment (2010), which devolved significant powers to the provinces. Proposals include returning legislative subjects like education and population planning back to the federal government. |
| National Finance Commission (NFC) | Some proposals also aim to remove the current protection for the provincial share under the NFC award, which governs federal revenue distribution, directly impacting provincial capacity to deliver public services. |
Constitutional expert Barrister Ali Tahir issued a stark warning, saying, “Whatever remains of the existing constitutional structure is now being prepared for a complete demolition,” while the Sharif government insists any amendment will only be introduced after achieving complete political consensus.