Aurat March slams 27th Amendment an ‘affront to Constitution’

LAHORE: The Lahore chapter of the Aurat March has sharply criticised the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, calling it an “affront to the spirit of the Constitution” and a move that “defangs the judiciary” while consolidating military power.

In a statement issued on Monday, the collective rejected the amendment, warning that it “undermines the very foundations of accountability and justice enshrined in the 1973 Constitution.”

The 27th Amendment Bill, tabled by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, was approved by the Senate on Monday. It proposes sweeping institutional changes, including the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court, alterations in the appointment process for high court judges, revisions to provincial cabinet limits, and a restructuring of the military’s top command.

Criticising both the speed and substance of the amendment, Aurat March Lahore said, “The manner in which the amendment is being passed, as well as its content, assails every aspect of accountability and justice and consolidates the powers of the military at an unprecedented level.”

By comparison, the group noted, the 18th Amendment took a year of consultations and the 26th Amendment was debated for over a month, whereas the 27th Amendment appeared to have progressed from draft to approval in less than a week.

Although Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik denied that the process was rushed, he confirmed that the cabinet meeting to finalise the bill was held with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attending virtually from Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Aurat March Lahore claimed the amendment “changes the character of the Constitution” and strips citizens of “the few safeguards” allowing them to hold those in power accountable. It drew particular attention to the redrafting of Article 243, which defines the command and control of the armed forces. The revision abolishes the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and establishes a new post, the Chief of Defence Forces.

The statement warned that the amendment “grants life-long constitutional protection to five-star officers and the president, placing them above the law.” It accused the government of shielding the powerful under the guise of reform.

The group also rebuked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), calling their support for the amendment a “cowardly capitulation” and a betrayal of their own history of opposition to military overreach.

“This will remain a permanent stain on their legacy,” the statement concluded.