Pakistan has strongly rejected what it called “ungrounded and misplaced apprehensions” expressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Foreign Office emphasized that the amendment was adopted through the proper democratic process, with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly, and that constitutional amendments remain the exclusive domain of Pakistan’s elected representatives.
The FO highlighted that democracy and democratic processes form the foundation of civil and political rights, which must be respected. The 27th Amendment, which came into effect on November 13 following President Asif Ali Zardari’s assent, includes provisions such as the Chief of Army Staff assuming the role of Chief of Defence Forces, lifetime retention of Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, and Admiral of Fleet titles, the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), and equal provincial representation within the FCC.
It also outlines judicial appointment roles for the president and prime minister, the transfer of high court judges, and limits presidential immunity if the president assumes public office after tenure.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, had expressed concerns that the amendments “seriously undermine judicial independence” and could expose the judiciary to political interference and executive control.
Turk noted that the creation of the FCC to handle constitutional cases, while limiting the Supreme Court to civil and criminal matters, could compromise the judiciary’s autonomy.
Responding to these concerns, Pakistan’s FO stressed that the amendments were enacted following all constitutional procedures and safeguards. The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights, human dignity, basic freedoms, and the rule of law.
The FO also expressed regret that Pakistan’s perspective and ground realities were not reflected in the UN statement, urging the UN high commissioner to respect Pakistan’s sovereign legislative decisions and to refrain from commentary that conveys political bias or misinformation. The Foreign Office reaffirmed that the 27th Amendment aligns with constitutional mandates and democratic principles of Pakistan.
