In an interview to discuss the recent constitutional amendment in Pakistan (called the 27th constitutional amendment) one of Pakistan's most senior diplomats, and its former Ambassador to USA, China, Russia and India, said that it is "the blackest day" in Pakistan's constitutional history. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said it was "a serious setback to the rule of law and democracy". He said it’s a "major attempt at substituting hybrid rule for civilian supremacy" and said that the widespread criticism in Pakistan is that it will create one man rule, that of the present Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Qazi told The Wire that informed opinion in Pakistan believes that with this amendment, the basic structure of Pakistan's constitution has not just been damaged but demolished.

Qazi discusses both the changes in the constitution that elevate the Army Chief to the new post of Chief of Defence Forces, giving him power over the Navy and the Air Force, as well as the creation of a new Federal Constitutional Court, which will effectively make the Supreme Court subordinate to it and ensure that the Supreme Court now only hears civil and commercial cases, while all important constitutional cases go to the Federal Constitutional Court.

Watch the full interview.

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