“In Pursuit of Pakistan’s Lost Democracy”

(IN BRIEF) Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment marks a major shift away from democracy by transferring key judicial powers from the Supreme Court to a new executive-controlled Federal Constitutional Court, giving the Prime Minister authority over judicial appointments, and expanding military influence over civilian affairs. These changes effectively eliminate judicial independence and deepen military dominance under General Asim Munir. The amendment also places Pakistan in violation of the EU’s GSP+ trade conditions, raising pressure for Europe to suspend Pakistan’s trade privileges, while U.S. legislative actions highlight similar concerns about human rights and authoritarianism. The situation is framed as part of a wider global trend toward centralized, authoritarian governance, with Pakistan serving as a warning of how democratic institutions can erode gradually and enable military or autocratic control.

(NEWS) ATHENS, 20-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Just as Proust sought lost time through the details of a society that did not realize it was collapsing, the international community today faces the need to search for Pakistan’s “lost democracy.” Not because it disappeared suddenly, but because it eroded gradually and silently—until the institutions remained only as a stage set, empty of substance, like the salons of the Guermantes when their former splendor had long since died.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment accelerates Pakistan’s silent transition from a democracy to a regime where institutions function only formally. This echoes Proust’s observation that societies continue to reproduce the outward forms of a reality that has long ceased to exist. Today, we are not merely seeking political accountability; we are seeking—as Proust would—the very democracy itself that was lost without our awareness.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan was approved in November 2025, after the National Assembly passed it on the 12th and President Asif Ali Zardari ratified it the following day, making it immediately law. The amendment marks a momentous shift in the country’s institutional architecture, as it strengthens military dominance at the expense of democracy.

At its core, the 27th Amendment drastically undermines judicial independence and transforms the very foundation of the democratic system. Expanding the interventions introduced by the 26th Amendment, it establishes the new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), transferring critical powers from the Supreme Court—from constitutional review to the protection of fundamental rights. In this way, the Supreme Court is relegated to a purely appellate role for civil and criminal cases, effectively losing its institutional function.

At the same time, the 27th Amendment radically alters the balance between political power and the military. With changes to judicial appointments and transfers, the executive branch gains unprecedented influence over the judiciary, shielding military leadership from any form of accountability. In practice, the amendment accelerates Pakistan’s path toward an entrenched, constitutionally sanctioned military governance under General Asim Munir.

The amendment transfers the authority for appointing and transferring judges from the judiciary itself to the executive branch, specifically the Prime Minister’s office. Judges deemed unsupportive of the government can now be transferred arbitrarily, weakening judicial independence and impartiality. Lawyers and constitutional scholars warn that this change violates the principle of separation of powers and risks turning courts from independent guarantors of justice into bodies aligned with executive and military authority. At the same time, the amendment abolishes parliamentary seats reserved for judicial nominees and expands military jurisdiction over civilians, further consolidating centralized power.

The broader consequence is the institutional weakening of constitutional guarantees. Courts no longer act as protectors of citizens but as mechanisms validating executive authority. This represents the culmination of decades of judicial subservience, codifying a model of justice that survives only in name, devoid of real power or the ability to limit authoritarian overreach. The judiciary thus becomes a ceremonial body, accelerating the decay of democracy and entrenching centralization.

At the same time, the internal dismantling of democratic institutions confronts the European Union and other international organizations with critical decisions regarding Pakistan’s special trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+). This status is contingent upon respect for human and labor rights, environmental protection, and democratic governance. Recent constitutional changes, including the 27th Amendment, signify a trajectory of militarization and systematic undermining of fundamental democratic principles, violating GSP+ requirements. Maintaining trade privileges under judicial subjugation and increased military influence sends conflicting signals and risks further legitimizing centralization.

Calls for action are reinforced by U.S. legislative initiatives, such as the Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act (H.R. 5271), which provides for sanctions against individuals responsible for rights violations and anti-democratic actions. Such international measures highlight the erosion of democratic political power and human rights protection in Pakistan, lending added weight to demands for EU intervention through the suspension of trade preferences.

The 27th Amendment is a critical turning point in Pakistan’s trajectory, signaling the official collapse of judicial independence and the entrenchment of military centralization. It is in direct opposition to the spirit of GSP+ agreements. European officials have repeatedly pointed out Pakistan’s failure to meet GSP+ obligations, citing systemic issues such as suppression of dissent, the erosion of judicial independence, and increased militarization of governance. The concentration of military power and the erosion of democratic institutions heighten the risk of arbitrariness, contravening the program’s core values.

Given the clear erosion of constitutional governance and judicial independence, the continuation of trade preferences provides Pakistan’s military regime with unaccountable economic resources. The EU must now reconsider Pakistan’s GSP+ status. Maintaining it will further strengthen military leadership. Pakistan’s military establishment has completely ignored multiple EU requests and recommendations not to try civilians in military courts for arson charges following the May protests. Despite these appeals, the military proceeded with trials, convicting 85 citizens to date, disregarding European warnings. The 27th Amendment reinforces this situation, signaling that the army now controls both executive and judicial power in Pakistan.

Unfortunately, current global political dynamics appear to be moving toward a more authoritarian direction, as many regimes seem exhausted by what was until recently perceived as the unchecked liberalism accompanying so-called “woke” culture. The strengthening of strategic and economic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, as reflected in the full restoration of relations under Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, is not only about security and investments; it also carries potential ideological influence. Saudi Arabia, with its strictly conservative framework, bolsters access to powerful tools of political authority. Combined with Trump’s centralized approach to executive power, this creates an environment in which the transfer of conservative principles and the consolidation of centralized structures becomes feasible. Economic interdependence—through investments, advanced arms sales, and access to cutting-edge AI technologies—serves as a channel of influence, subtly reinforcing conservative political practices and decision-making approaches focused on centralizing power, following patterns already implemented in Riyadh.

Europe is also affected. The establishment of military centralization in Pakistan serves as a warning for Europe, where the rise of fascist and authoritarian tendencies is not limited to right- or left-wing movements but manifests in efforts to concentrate all powers in the hands of a single ruler, suppress dissent, and often intertwine political and religious authority in forms reminiscent of the Middle Ages. In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) strengthens nationalist and anti-immigrant positions; in France, the Rassemblement National (RN) promotes migration restrictions and control over national sovereignty; in the United Kingdom, parties such as Reform UK and the more extreme Homeland Party attempt to concentrate power and limit dissent. In Greece, the stance of certain left-wing parties, such as that under Konstantopoulou’s leadership, shows zero tolerance for opposing voices, concentrating political power and restricting public consultation—features reminiscent of centralization and repression regardless of ideology.

The message is clear: resistance to fascism requires vigilance from all sides, left and right, as authoritarian traits can emerge in any political environment. Pakistan’s situation, with the prevalence of military centralization, serves as a living example of the dangers when democratic institutions are undermined, warning of the potential consequences of a similar rise of authoritarian political movements in Europe.

About the author

Dimitra Staikou is a Greek lawyer, journalist, and professional writer with extensive expertise on South Asia, China, and the Middle East. Her analyses on geopolitics, international trade, and human rights have been published in leading outlets including Modern Diplomacy, HuffPost Greece, Skai.gr, Eurasia Review, and the Daily Express (UK). Fluent in English, Greek, and Spanish, Dimitra combines legal insight with on-the-ground reporting and creative storytelling, offering a nuanced perspective on global affairs.

SOURCE: Dimitra Staikou