The Pakistan Army has always reigned supreme over its two sister services—Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force—throughout the country’s post-Independence history. Now, when jointmanship, integration, and theaterisation are the buzzwords in many militaries, including its eastern neighbour, India, the Pakistan Army has moved to secure its stranglehold over the military and the nation through a new constitutional amendment.On November 8, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was tabled in Parliament the following day. Primarily amending Article 243 (on armed forces command and control), the Bill aims to “modernise” the military hierarchy but has sparked widespread debate for centralising authority under the chief of army staff (COAS), currently Field Marshal Asim Munir.The changes are expected to pass with the ruling coalition’s support and take effect by late November, coinciding with the retirement of the current chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC). Critics, including Opposition parties, label it a “constitutional coup” that erodes civilian oversight and entrenches military dominance.Key changes to military structureThe amendment restructures command to prioritise the army, abolishing inter-service balance while introducing protections for top ranks:– Chief of defence forces (CDF): A new supreme uniformed post overseeing the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The COAS will hold this role concurrently, making the army chief the de facto head of all services.– Abolition of the CJCSC: The rotational chairmanship chairman joint chiefs of staff committee ends on November 27 with the retirement of the incumbent, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the lone four-star general in the Pakistan Army today.– Commander of national strategic command: A new army-only role to manage nuclear and strategic assets, will be appointed by the prime minister on the CDF’s recommendations. This centralises control over Pakistan’s most sensitive defences.Story continues below this ad– Lifetime privileges for five-star ranks: Officers elevated to field marshal, admiral of the fleet, or marshal of the air force, gain “national hero” status. They retain rank, uniform, and privileges indefinitely; enjoy presidential-like immunity under Article 248; and can be removed only via parliamentary impeachment. Post-command roles and pay will be assigned by the federal government “in the national interest”, formalising protections for figures like Field Marshal Munir.ImplicationsThe changes reinforce an army-centric command that undermines joint operations and civilian authority. The institutionalising of the Army’s supremacy over the other two services is being cemented primarily to ensure the protection of Field Marshal Asim Munir in office and also in a post-active service role when he demits office at a future date of his convenience.Historic changesThe last Pakistani military dictator who tried to bring in changes into hierarchy was General Pervez Musharraf, but these remained more or less on paper, with the primacy of the Corps Commanders of Pakistan Army unaffected.Among the measures that Musharraf put in place was a Southern Command encompassing XII Corps (Quetta, Balochistan) and V Corps (Karachi, Sind). During General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s tenure as the army chief, a Central and Northern Command was also mooted. According to Shuja Nawaz, a Pakistani writer on military affairs, this was seen as a response to India’s Cold Start strategy that was premised on a rapid Indian thrust into Pakistan to capture and hold key territory and make Pakistan sue for peace.Story continues below this ad“Strategically, the creation of the Central Command comprising of 1 and XXX Corps, accompanied by the provision of an armour division from Kharian to XXX Corps in Gujranwala, effectively blocked any Indian move into the Sialkot and adjacent sectors. Meanwhile, the Northern Command (a name shared by the British formations headquartered in Rawalpindi in pre-Partition India) would comprise of X and XI Corps with their headquarters in Rawalpindi and Peshawar, respectively,” wrote Nawaz.However, the commands have been more or less nonstarters, and the Corps Commanders have continued to hold sway even as their rank continued to be that of lieutenant general.Upgrading appointmentsReports from Pakistan suggest that the newly minted field marshal is contemplating upgrading military appointments in all three services to a higher rank in order to mollify the flag rank officers who feel he has walked away with all the goodies after promoting himself as a five-star general in the rank of field marshal.Key appointments in the general headquarters, like military secretary, director-general military operations, adjutant general, etc, along with a host of other appointments, may be upgraded from major general to lieutenant general. Also, at least two new army four-star appointments in the rank of four-star general may be made in the form of a vice chief of army staff and the commander of national strategic command.Story continues below this adThe proposed and expected changes taking place at the higher echelons of the Pakistan military have accelerated in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. It is apparent that the de facto military ruler of Pakistan is using the short and sharp confrontation with India to solidify his hold on the country, even as an insipid political leadership is left with no option but to bow to his diktats.