Constitutional amendment in Pakistan: A new storm is brewing in Pakistan’s political landscape. The proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment has brought the nation into bitter debate, with many fearing that it would tilt the balance of power even further in the direction of the military establishment. But at the centre of this controversy is the Army Chief, General Asim Munir, whom many consider today’s most powerful man.
The proposed amendment discussed quietly in Islamabad’s corridors of power seeks to revise Article 243 of the Constitution. This is a clause that covers the appointment and powers of the chiefs of the armed forces.
The change appears procedural on paper. But in reality it could extend Asim Munir’s tenure beyond his scheduled retirement on November 28 and give legal recognition to his newly granted title Field Marshal.
Reports suggest that after Pakistan’s claimed success in responding to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May 2025, Munir was given the rank of Field Marshal informally. The amendment would now make that rank official giving it constitutional weight and permanent authority.
The ruling PML-N, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has already reached out to the PPP for support, but the proposal has set off alarm bells among lawyers, opposition members, and civil rights groups that see it as a dangerous return to Pakistan’s military-dominated past.
The man in the middle
General Asim Munir is no stranger to power or controversy; he is often described as the country’s “de facto ruler” and has increasingly become visible both at home and abroad. His growing stature was evident when US President Donald Trump reportedly called him “my favourite Field Marshal” during a meeting.
If the 27th Amendment goes through, Munir would only be the second officer in Pakistan’s history to have the rank of Field Marshal-the first being Ayub Khan, who conferred it upon himself back in 1959 when he seized power through a coup. He would go on to become Pakistan’s president and rule through martial law for years.
Though there were once rumors he might try for the presidency, that talk has cooled.
What the 27th amendment proposes
It has many important elements. All this may dramatically reshape the political and judicial systems in Pakistan:
1. Constitutional recognition of Field Marshal rank:
The title of Field Marshal does not have any legal status under the current laws of Pakistan. The proposed amendment will make it a constitutional definition that protects the powers and tenure of its holder. In effect, it could make this post semi-permanent beyond the retirement norms.
2. Restructuring the judiciary:
Another key proposal is the establishment of a Constitutional Court, as a body separate from the Supreme Court, to deal exclusively with issues concerning the Constitution and fundamental rights. It would reduce the workload of the Supreme Court and ensure speedy justice, say officials.
But critics fear it’s a move to weaken judicial independence.
3. Changes to provincial powers:
Perhaps most controversially the amendment could roll back parts of the 18th Amendment, a landmark reform passed in 2010 that gave the provinces greater control over sectors like education, health, and local governance.
The 18th Amendment also diminished the president’s powers making the position largely a ceremonial one. Reversing these changes could recentralize authority in Islamabad undoing years of progress in local governance.
Some of the suggested reforms include putting education and family planning under federal control once again.
Growing fears Many Pakistanis still remember the decades of military rule that followed coups by generals such as Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf. To them, this amendment is déjà vu.
The government, however, maintains that the changes are still “under discussion” and that nothing will be finalized without “complete political consensus.” Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed that the idea of formally recognizing the Field Marshal title is on the table, but “no formal work has begun.”
This is a proposal that raises very fundamental questions about who really runs the country-elected representatives or generals operating from behind the scene-particularly in Pakistan, where the dividing line between military and civilian rule has always been very thin.
For now, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s team continues to consult allies and shape public messaging, portraying the amendment as a “necessary step to strengthen institutions.” But for many in Pakistan’s legal and civil society circles, the 27th Amendment looks like a constitutional Trojan horse, one that could quietly rewrite the balance of power for years to come.