Dhaka, Nov. 16 -- In its 27th Constitutional Amendment, Pakistan's parliament has granted army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir sweeping new powers and lifetime immunity from arrest and prosecution, sparking concerns of a drift towards autocracy.

The amendment, signed into law on Thursday, also reshapes the country's judicial system, creating a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) with judges appointed by the president, reports bdnews24.com.

The BBC reports that supporters of the amendment say it brings clarity to the military's chain of command and eases judicial backlogs, while critics warn it entrenches military dominance and undermines judicial independence.

Munir, who has served as army chief since November 2022, will now also ove...