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Pakistan is facing mounting international criticism after pushing through its controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment, a move Amnesty International says poses a serious threat to judicial independence and the rule of law.
In a strongly worded public statement, Amnesty International warned that the amendment creates a powerful new Federal Constitutional Court lacking independence, strips judges of key protections, and grants sweeping immunity to the president and senior military leaders.
The rights group said the law was forced through parliament without consultation with civil society or opposition parties, despite its far-reaching consequences. On the day the amendment became law, two senior Supreme Court judges resigned in protest, followed by another resignation from the Lahore High Court days later.
Amnesty said the amendment further concentrates power in the executive by allowing political authorities to dominate judicial appointments, undermining access to justice and weakening constitutional safeguards.
The organisation also highlighted a broader pattern of intimidation against judges, including surveillance, threats, and interference by intelligence agencies in politically sensitive cases.
Baloch political activist Aomar Karim, in a statement issued on 15 November, described the amendment as “a dark turning point in Pakistan’s history and a direct assault on democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law.”
Amnesty also raised alarm over provisions granting lifetime immunity to the president and senior military figures, warning that the changes violate international human rights law and the principle of equality before the law.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has echoed these concerns, describing the amendment as “hastily adopted” and lacking meaningful debate or transparency.
Human rights groups warn the new legal framework could be used to silence opposition, suppress dissent, and block legal challenges in cases involving political repression, enforced disappearances, and military conduct.
Amnesty has called for an urgent review of the amendment and urged Pakistani authorities to uphold international legal obligations, protect judicial independence, and restore public trust in the justice system.
