ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday firmly rejected the concerns raised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding the recently approved 27th Constitutional Amendment, calling the international body’s remarks “ungrounded” and “misplaced”. The Foreign Office (FO) said the amendment was passed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, reflecting Pakistan’s democratic will and constitutional process.
In a detailed statement, the FO stressed that constitutional reforms and legislative matters fall strictly within the authority of elected representatives, and external commentary overlooking this fact compromises the understanding of Pakistan’s internal democratic mechanisms. It added that civil and political rights, democratic values, and the rule of law continue to guide Pakistan’s governance framework.
The FO said it “regretted” that the OHCHR statement did not reflect Pakistan’s viewpoint or the “ground realities” surrounding the constitutional amendment. It urged the UN rights office to fully respect Pakistan’s parliamentary sovereignty and avoid remarks that “reflect political bias”.
The UN rights chief, Volker Türk, earlier warned that the 27th Amendment could weaken judicial independence and increase executive influence. He said the amendment — passed on November 13 and soon signed by President Asif Ali Zardari — lacked broad consultation, similar to last year’s 26th Amendment. Türk argued that establishing the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) by removing the Supreme Court’s authority over constitutional matters may centralise excessive power and reduce oversight.
He also expressed concerns over the revised system for appointing, transferring, and promoting judges, claiming the new structure risks subjecting the judiciary to political pressure. Türk further warned that immunity provisions included in the amendment could diminish accountability and weaken institutional checks on government authority.
The FO dismissed these concerns, stating that Pakistan remains committed to protecting human dignity, fundamental freedoms, and judicial integrity. It reaffirmed that the amendment was enacted through a transparent constitutional procedure approved by both houses of parliament despite opposition protests.
With the President’s assent, the 27th Constitutional Amendment has officially become part of the Constitution — a development Pakistan says reflects its democratic evolution rather than a threat to judicial independence.
