27th Amendment solidifies Pakistan Army's control over power

Pakistan's 27th Amendment establishes a Chief of Defence Forces, held by the Army Chief, who will command all three services. It also grants legal immunity to five-star officers and creates a Federal Constitutional Court, superseding the Supreme Court. The amendment solidifies the Army's "hard state" vision and institutionalizes its centrality in foreign policy. This follows a period of rising militant attacks and a bilateral crisis with India, which the military leveraged to consolidate power. This move contrasts with previous Army Chiefs' statements about distancing from politics, marking the maturity of Pakistan's "hybrid model" of governance where the military maintains control.