Pakistan rejects UNHCHR criticism of 27th Constitutional Amendment

Pakistan expressed serious concerns over the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) statement against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

The spokesman of the Foreign Office, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, said that the 27th Constitutional Amendment was passed by the parliament with a two-thirds majority.

The spokesman further said that, like other countries, Pakistani parliamentarians are also authorised to amend the constitution.

Earlier on November 28, 2025, in a statement issued in Geneva, the human rights chief said the latest constitutional amendment, like the 26th amendment last year, had been adopted without broad consultation and debate with the legal community and wider civil society. He added that the “hastily adopted” amendments undermined judicial independence and raised concerns about military accountability.

A press release issued by the FO said that Pakistan rejected the “baseless” statement.

“Pakistan notes with deep concern the unfounded and misplaced apprehensions aired on behalf of the UN high commissioner for human rights regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment adopted by the two-thirds majority of the parliament of Pakistan,” the press release by the FO said.

“Like all parliamentary democracies, all legislation as well as any amendment to the Constitution remains the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan,” it added.

The FO said that democracy and democratic methods “form the bedrock of civil and political rights, and therefore must be respected”.

“The constitutional amendments adopted by the parliament of Pakistan followed due procedures as enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution,” it said.

It added that Pakistan remained “fully committed to protecting, promoting and upholding human rights, human dignity, basic freedoms and the rule of law” as enshrined in the Constitution.

“While Pakistan gives due importance to the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is regrettable that Pakistan’s views and ground realities were not reflected in the statement issued,” the FO said.

Reporter: Anwar Abbas