By Admin 
The Government of Pakistan recently increased the powers of Army Chief Asim Munir under the 27th Amendment, on which United Nations High Commissioner (Human Rights) Volker Turk raised questions. Volker Turk said that this constitutional amendment of Pakistan seriously weakens the independence of the judiciary, after which Pakistan was shocked. PAK Foreign Ministry has said that their Parliament has made these changes after debate, raising questions on it is beyond comprehension.
Frustrated Pakistan gave clarification
UN Human Rights Chief Volcker said in a statement issued in Geneva that Pakistan’s constitutional amendment, like last year’s 26th Amendment, was adopted without any consultation and debate with lawmakers and the larger civil society. He further said that the hastily adopted amendment has weakened the judiciary and raised concerns about the accountability of the military. Angered by his statement, Pakistan presented a clarification. Its Foreign Ministry said, “Pakistan objects to the apprehensions expressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the 27th Amendment passed by the Parliament of Pakistan with a two-thirds majority.”
There is no ground reality in Volcker’s statement: Pakistan
The PAK Foreign Ministry said, “Like other parliamentary democracies in the world, making laws and changing the Constitution is the exclusive jurisdiction of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan. Pakistan gives full importance to the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, but it is regrettable that the ground reality has not been reflected in the statement issued. The constitutional changes adopted in the Parliament of Pakistan have followed the correct methods prescribed in the Constitution.
Pakistan said that democracy and democratic methods are the foundation of civil and political rights and hence they should be respected.” The Shahbaz government claimed that it is dedicated to the principles of protecting human rights, human dignity, freedom and rule of law as per the Pakistani Constitution. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s office has appealed that his decision be respected.
27th constitutional amendment passed amid protests in Pakistan
Pakistan recently got the 27th Amendment passed in a hurry by the Parliament amidst huge protests. The biggest concerns included making major changes in the judiciary system by creating a Federal Constitutional Court and making changes in Article 243, in which the importance of the Army has increased and the Army Chief has got a place at the top of the Armed Services of Pakistan as the new Chief of Defense Forces.