Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi and Shah Meer Baloch in Islamabad

Pakistani parliament votes to give army chief new powers and legal immunity

A man marching at a rally holds up a banner showing Asim Munir in military uniform
A person at a rally in Islamabad in May supporting Pakistan’s armed forces carries a banner depicting Field Marshal Asim Munir. Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan’s parliament has passed a controversial amendment to its constitution that will expand the powers of the army chief and grant him lifelong legal immunity while limiting the independence of the supreme court, in a move critics described as a “funeral for democracy”.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief who is widely seen as a de facto ruler of the country, was the main benefactor from the 27th constitutional amendment, which was passed by the parliamentary lower house on Wednesday.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.