ThePrint CutTheClutter: Munir's power grab without coup-Pakistan's 27th Amendment gives Field Marshal total control,immunity
Nov 12, 2025
Pakistan's 27th Constitutional Amendment is making waves as it assigns lifelong power to Field Marshal Asim Munir, bringing significant changes to military and civilian governance. The amendment grants Munir presidential-like immunity, effectively undermining the judiciary and elevating military dominance. Past constitutional failures are explored, revealing a troubling trend of authority consolidation. The implications extend beyond Pakistan, potentially impacting regional stability and civil-military relations.
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Field Marshal For Life
- Pakistan's 27th Amendment elevates Asim Munir to a lifelong field marshal with expanded powers.
- The amendment makes the army chief constitutionally superior to navy and air force and grants lifetime immunity.
Ayub Khan's Precedent
- Shekhar Gupta recounts Ayub Khan making himself field marshal after imposing martial law in 1958.
- He uses this history to show Munir is Pakistan's second field marshal and to contextualize constitutional abrogations.
Rapid Push Through Parliament
- The 27th Amendment was fast-tracked through Parliament and the Senate with organized defections to secure the two-thirds majority.
- Gupta emphasizes Pakistan's de facto army ownership and the government's inability to challenge the military.