In a dramatic constitutional turn, Pakistan appears to be moving towards a dual power structure&mdash;where the military, rather than the ballot box, may become the decisive arbiter of national governance. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government is reportedly poised to push through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a legislative manoeuvre aimed at securing enhanced and near-autonomous powers for Field Marshal Asim Munir, the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Unlike the military coups of General Zia-ul-Haq or General Pervez Musharraf, this time, the military&rsquo;s consolidation of power seems to be arriving through parliamentary sanction rather than tanks on the streets. The amendment seeks to formalise the rank, tenure, and authority of a Field Marshal&mdash;an honorary title until now&mdash;into the Constitution itself. Munir&rsquo;s current tenure, ending in November 2025, has stirred legal uncertainties, with the extension he received under previous legal reforms offering no clarity over his status post-retirement.
By altering Article 243 to grant constitutional backing to the Field Marshal&rsquo;s rank, the government not only secures Munir&rsquo;s influence beyond election cycles but effectively endorses a parallel governance structure. The amendment also incorporates broader alterations touching finances, judicial oversight, and the creation of a new Constitutional Court&mdash;seen by critics as an alarming shift towards a military-influenced executive order.
Opponents argue that this move would institutionalise military supremacy, weaken parliamentary oversight, and blur the line between civilian and military authority. Analysts have warned that such centralisation of power, under the guise of addressing &ldquo;constitutional ambiguities&rdquo;, may sow seeds of authoritarianism under democratic pretext.
With no coup in sight and no boots marching on Islamabad, this constitutional recalibration may nevertheless weaken Pakistan&rsquo;s civilian institutions&mdash;a quiet mutation that could reshape South Asia&rsquo;s political fabric. A constitutionally empowered military chief, with influence spanning policy, security, and judicial structures, risks triggering fresh tensions with India, stirring instability along the LOC, and affecting regional alignments in an already volatile geopolitical theatre.
Whether Pakistan is heading towards a formal dual power system&mdash;or unwittingly legitimising military rule in democratic clothing&mdash;remains the central question. What is evident, however, is that the balance of power in Islamabad is tilting. And this time, it seems, the tilt comes boxed in legal text, not battlefield rhetoric.

Constitutional change may formalise military dominance, weakening Pakistan’s civilian rule

Pakistan’s New Amendment: Army Above Govt?

Constitutional change may formalise military dominance, weakening Pakistan’s civilian rule

November 6, 2025 | 17:36 IST