Pakistan amendments spark debate on judicial independence, governance

Recent constitutional changes in Pakistan have altered the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive. The 26th and 27th Amendments, enacted in April 2026, removed the requirement for judges' consent before transfers, gave the executive a majority in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, and allowed judges to be moved without their approval. Critics say the reforms have turned judges into civil servants and “subjected [them] to extreme pressure,” with the Chief Justice calling the move “an intrusion upon judicial independence.”

At the same time, a draft 28th Amendment is being discussed, proposing a shift from the current parliamentary system to a presidential model and the introduction of merit‑based selection for public officials. Proponents argue that such structural reforms could address chronic governance failures, but the proposal faces skepticism about its political feasibility.

These amendments collectively raise concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the direction of Pakistan’s constitutional evolution.