Sun Nov 30 19:46:58 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Pakistan has rejected concerns raised by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk regarding the country’s 27th constitutional amendment. Turk criticized the amendment’s rapid adoption without sufficient consultation and expressed worries about its impact on judicial independence and military accountability. Pakistan’s Foreign Office responded by asserting that constitutional amendments are the exclusive domain of its elected parliament and criticized Turk’s statement for not reflecting Pakistan’s views. The amendment, approved by a joint parliamentary committee, proposes changes to the military structure, establishes a Federal Constitutional Court, and reduces the powers of the Supreme Court, drawing criticism from the opposition.
News Article:
Pakistan Dismisses UN Rights Chief’s Concerns Over Constitutional Amendment
Islamabad – December 1, 2025 – Pakistan has strongly refuted concerns voiced by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk regarding the recently passed 27th constitutional amendment. The Foreign Office released a statement on Sunday, December 1st, defending the amendment as the sole prerogative of the elected Parliament of Pakistan.
Turk, in a statement issued from Geneva on Friday, November 28th, criticized the amendment’s hasty adoption without broad consultation with legal experts and civil society, raising concerns about its potential impact on judicial independence and military accountability. He noted similarities with the 26th amendment passed the previous year.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office countered that the UN High Commissioner’s statement failed to reflect Pakistan’s perspective on the matter. The statement further emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to upholding human rights, human dignity, and the rule of law as enshrined in its constitution, urging Turk to respect the sovereign decisions of the Pakistani Parliament and avoid commentary with political bias.
The 27th constitutional amendment, already approved by a joint parliamentary committee, proposes significant changes, including restructuring the military leadership by replacing the ‘Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee’ with a ‘Chief of Defence Forces’. Furthermore, it seeks to establish a Federal Constitutional Court and curtail the powers of the Supreme Court, moves that have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, who claim it undermines the independence of the judiciary.
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