Shehbaz Sharif Plans Constitutional Amendment to Expand Powers of Field Marshal Asim Munir

After promoting Army Chief Asim Munir to Field Marshal, Pakistan plans a constitutional amendment to enhance his powers by changing Article 243. Opposition leaders and former diplomats warn this move could weaken civilian control over the military.

New Delhi: Despite the defeat at the hands of India in 'Operation Sindoor,' Pakistan has promoted its Army Chief, General Asim Munir, to the rank of Field Marshal. This move is not only shaking up Pakistan's military politics but is also an attempt to make Munir even more powerful.

In the past few months, Asim Munir has emerged as the most influential figure in Pakistan.

Preparation for Constitutional Amendment

The Pakistani government is now preparing to amend the country's constitution to grant Field Marshal Asim Munir more powers. This amendment will be called the '27th Constitutional Amendment.'

Pakistan’s 27th Amendment: Will Field Marshal Asim Munir Gain More Power? Full Story Here

It proposes changes to Article 243, which deals with the command and control of the armed forces. Through this change, Munir's role can be constitutionally strengthened.

Bilawal Bhutto and His Party's Stance

Interestingly, the information about the constitutional amendment was not shared by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself, but by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto.

Bilawal stated that Prime Minister Sharif had sought his party's support for this amendment. This means that the government wants the cooperation of the opposition to pass this amendment.

Possibility of Service Extension

Currently, the rank of 'Field Marshal' does not have any legal status in the Pakistani constitution. Asim Munir is scheduled to retire on November 28, 2025, but after this amendment, his term of service may be extended. Pakistan's Minister of State for Law, Aqeel Malik, said that this is the first time an officer has been made a field marshal since the 1973 constitution, and now a constitutional reform is necessary.

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Criticism and Questions

Former Pakistani Member of Parliament Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar questioned this amendment, saying that its sole purpose is to give more power to the army chief. Former US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also expressed concern that this change could eliminate civilian control over the military and endanger the democratic balance.