Pakistan.. “lifetime immunity” for the president and army commander

The Pakistani parliament on Thursday approved a controversial constitutional amendment granting the president and the current army commander lifelong immunity from any prosecution, in a move that the opposition denounced as a “death blow to democracy.”

The twenty-seventh constitutional amendment, which was adopted by a two-thirds majority of members of the National Assembly and then the Senate, grants broader powers to the Pakistani army commander, and restricts the role and independence of the country’s Supreme Court.

Hours later, the president signed this amendment, which stipulates the creation of a new position, “Commander of the Defense Forces,” granted to Army Commander Assem Mounir, which places him above the commanders of the naval and air forces.

It also acknowledges that anyone who is granted the rank of Field Marshal, as was the case with Munir in May following a lightning clash with India, will retain his rank and privileges for life, and enjoy immunity from any prosecution.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who has been accused of corruption, also receives lifelong immunity under the same amendment, unless he holds another public office.

The amendment also stipulates the establishment of a new federal constitutional court that will be the only body authorized to hear constitutional cases, which strips the powers of the Supreme Court and limits its independence.

Syed Zulfikar Bukhari, spokesman for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the largest opposition party, told AFP that this amendment is “a fatal blow to the independence of the judiciary and the proper functioning of democracy.”