The 27th Amendment

The 27th Amendment

The 27th Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan, approved in November 2025, introduced far-reaching changes to the country’s constitutional and judicial framework, significantly reshaping the balance of power among state institutions. The amendment established a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional matters, effectively reducing the Supreme Court of Pakistan to a primarily appellate body and altering the traditional role of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. It also expanded the authority of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan by allowing the transfer of High Court judges, with refusal constituting grounds for disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the amendment granted lifetime constitutional immunity to the President and senior military leadership and formally institutionalized military influence by recognizing the role of the Army Chief and creating a new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) position. The amendment has drawn strong criticism from domestic and international observers, including the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Amnesty International, who argue that it undermines judicial independence, weakens the rule of law, and signals an increased concentration of executive and military power. Click here to read the full document.