By Admin 
Claiming to have learned ‘many lessons’ from the recent tensions with India, Pakistan has taken a major step to further strengthen its army constitutionally. Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar has introduced the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate, through which a new structure will be given to the top command of the army. Most importantly, the change could pave the way for Field Marshal Asim Munir to be made the ‘Commander of Defense Forces’ (CDF) – a post that will give supreme command over the three services.
Pakistan cited tension with India
Law Minister Tarar said that the recent tensions between India and Pakistan have proved that the strategy of modern war has changed. Therefore, it has become necessary to clearly record the structure and top command of the army in the Constitution. He told that many important military posts are in the Army Act, but not in the Constitution of 1973, hence they will be given formal status.
Increased stir in Pakistan after Operation Sindoor
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor to target terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and PoK. In this, more than 100 terrorists were killed and many hideouts of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba were destroyed. In response, Pakistan also took military action, but on May 10, both the countries announced ceasefire. Ten days after the ceasefire, Pakistan made Army Chief Asim Munir a field marshal – for only the second time in history, Ayub Khan had given himself the post in 1959.
How much power will increase if Asim Munir becomes CDF?
- The changes proposed in the 27th Amendment can turn Field Marshal Munir into the most powerful military officer of Pakistan.
- Field Marshal will get a constitutional rank, that is, it will not be just an honorary title. This will provide legal protection to Munir’s post and tenure.
- A new post called ‘Commander of Defense Forces’ (CDF) will be created – who will exercise supreme command over the Army, Navy and Air Force. There is a suspicion that only Munir will sit on this post.
- The role of the President and Prime Minister on military matters may be limited as real power will rest with the CDF.
- The new amendment creates the possibility of giving long or indefinite tenure to the CDF or Field Marshal.
- Bringing many ministries under the center means that indirectly the policy-control capacity of the army will increase.
- The powers of the provinces will decrease, due to which the control of the center and the army will become stronger.
That means, if the amendment is passed, Asim Munir will be able to have complete control over the three armies of Pakistan.
Was this change needed?
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, many legal experts of the country are raising questions on this amendment. He says that the structure of the army can be improved even through ordinary legislation, there is no need to change the Constitution for this. Experts are warning that this step could be a way to increase the power of the army in the name of ‘reform’. Apart from this, in the 26th Amendment, the tenure of the Army Chief was increased from 3 to 5 years, but it is still unclear on what basis the tenure of the current Field Marshal, who was appointed in the old system, will be extended. It is also being said that instead of solving this problem, the 27th Amendment is becoming a means of further strengthening the hold of the army.
Is the army once again taking over power in Pakistan?
These proposals have once again intensified the debate in Pakistan whether the army is trying to re-establish complete control over the country’s politics and constitutional structure. Political parties and experts believe that if the post of CDF is created and Asim Munir gets its responsibility, then the power of the army in Pakistan will increase more than before.