Amnesty International has accused Pakistan of “violating international human rights laws” in light of the amendment to Article 27 of the Pakistani Constitution.
In a recent statement, the organization claimed that this constitutional amendment represents a regression. Amnesty International is calling for an immediate review of this amendment and urging the Pakistani government to swiftly implement measures to protect the neutrality, independence, and security of judges.
The statement highlights: “ The constitutional amendment violates international human rights laws and specifically undermines the independence of the judiciary by granting lifetime immunity to officials, thereby exempting them from accountability.”
According to the organization, Pakistani authorities must remain committed to their international human rights obligations.
Amnesty International also urged these officials to ensure access to justice and effective redress and to respect the principle of separation of powers.
It is noteworthy that the Pakistani government recently amended Article 27 of the constitution, granting lifetime privileges to certain officials, including Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan.