Pakistan’s parliament has passed a sweeping constitutional amendment that grants lifetime immunity to the president and the country’s most powerful military officer.
Lawmakers approved the 27th amendment on Thursday with a two-thirds majority, despite strong warnings from critics who fear it will weaken democratic checks and judicial independence.
The amendment creates a new Chief of Defence Forces position and centralises control of the army, air force, and navy under Army Chief Asim Munir.
Munir was promoted to field marshal after Pakistan’s clash with India in May.
He and other top officers will now receive lifelong immunity and retain their ranks, uniforms, and benefits permanently.
Before this amendment, such protections were reserved for the president alone.
The new law also shields President Asif Ali Zardari from criminal prosecution.
However, this protection ends if he or any other former president takes up another public office.
Zardari has faced several corruption cases in the past, though most were previously halted.
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of more than 250 million people, has long struggled with tensions between civilian leaders and an influential military establishment.
Many analysts believe this amendment further tilts power toward the armed forces.
The Senate first passed the bill on Monday. The National Assembly revised and approved it on Wednesday before sending it back to the upper chamber for final confirmation.
The president signed it into law shortly after the vote.