NDTV:
Amid Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s increasing influence in Pakistan and abroad, Islamabad is planning to amend its constitution, possibly giving more power to its military. The Shehbaz Sharif government has confirmed that it will table the 27th constitutional amendment in Parliament soon, which includes proposed changes related to the command of the armed forces.
Critics fear the move will secure Munir’s iron grip on Pakistan. The South Asian nation struggles with civil-military relations due to the military’s history of direct rule, its pervasive influence over civilian governments, and its role in national security and the economy.
The speculation regarding the tweaks in the Constitution started following a tweet by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the government approached him for support for the 27th amendment.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday confirmed the reports while speaking in the Senate, the upper house of the Pakistani Parliament.
“Of course, the government is bringing it and will bring it … The 27th Amendment will arrive … and is about to arrive. We will try to table it in accordance with principles, laws and the Constitution,” he said.
Dar also rejected the concerns expressed by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party that the government would try to change the Constitution without following the proper procedure.
“It is not the case that the amendment is tabled and there is voting on it in a haphazard, ad hoc manner; this will not happen,” he reassured.
