Pakistan’s parliament has made a bold, fast move! On Wednesday, lawmakers approved a big constitutional amendment that gives more power to the army chief and cuts down the might of the country’s Supreme Court. This change shook many people, who say it hurts Pakistan’s democracy and freedom of the courts. The lower house of parliament agreed to the law by a loud majority, with only four voices saying no. The upper house had passed it just two days earlier, after the opposition boycotted the discussion. Such a quick change to the constitution is very rare. Once the president signs it, it will become official, which is just a formality now. So, what’s new? Army chief Asim Munir is now promoted to Chief of Defence Forces. This means he’ll control the army, navy, and air force — a super-powerful role. After he finishes his term, he won’t lose his rank and will get legal protection for life. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif celebrated this change, calling it a step to national unity and honoring the heroism of the armed forces. Sharif asked, “What’s wrong with that?” and explained that countries respect their heroes. But the critics are furious! They say this move gives way too much power to the military and the ruling government. One shocking part of the amendment moves constitutional case decisions from the Supreme Court to a new Federal Constitutional Court. The judges for this new court will be picked by the government, not independently. Lately, the Supreme Court has stopped government policies and even removed prime ministers, which clearly didn’t please those in power. Opposition members, especially from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was founded by jailed ex-premier Imran Khan, stormed out before the vote and tore bill copies to protest. PTI spokesman Zulfikar Bukhari said, “None of the parliamentarians cared about democracy and the judiciary being eliminated. They have voted for being a silent observer whilst the country becomes a banana republic.” Legal experts also warned of dark times ahead. Constitutional lawyer Asad Rahim Khan said, “We are facing completely uncharted territory: a breach in our judicial system the likes of which we haven't seen in almost a century.” Another lawyer, Mirza Moiz Baig, called it “the death knell of an independent judiciary.” He explained the prime minister and president will get to pick the top judges, making the new court less able to stop the government’s overreach. Pakistan's military has always been a powerful player behind the scenes, but these reforms give it official constitutional power like never before. Mirza Moiz Baig added, “With the amendment’s passage, parliament has done what previous dictators could only dream of.” The nation now watches nervously as democracy and judicial checks face a serious test.