A coalition of retired judges and senior lawyers has sounded the alarm over the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, calling it the “biggest threat” to the independence of Pakistan’s Supreme Court since its creation in 1956. The group has formally written to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, urging him to convene a full court session immediately to address the amendment’s implications.

The letter, drafted by Advocate Faisal Siddiqui and signed by prominent jurists such as Justice (retd) Mushir Alam, Justice (retd) Nadeem Akhtar, Muneer A. Malik, Anwar Mansoor Khan, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Ali Ahmad Kurd, Abid S. Zuberi, Khawaja Ahmad Hussain, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Shabnam Nawaz Awan, expressed “deep sadness and regret” over what they described as the most radical challenge to judicial autonomy in Pakistan’s history.

The proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment seeks to restructure the federal appellate system, introducing major changes to the military command and reducing the Supreme Court’s powers. Certain authorities would be shifted to a newly proposed Federal Constitutional Court, whose chief justice would serve a limited three-year term. The Federal Constitutional Court is also set to feature equal provincial representation, a move critics warn could dilute the Supreme Court’s traditional powers.

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“The amendment represents the largest restructuring of the Federal Appellate Court since the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1935,” the letter stated. The jurists highlighted that neither civilian nor military governments have previously succeeded in attempting to subordinate the Supreme Court, emphasizing that this attempt is “extraordinary” and unprecedented.

The retired judges and lawyers underscored the urgency of the situation, warning that the amendment could be passed by November 11, 2025, leaving little time for the Supreme Court to collectively respond. “If a full court meeting is not called, we expect you to acknowledge in writing that you have reconciled with being the last Chief Justice of Pakistan,” the letter noted.

The legal community described the amendment as a potential threat to the credibility and authority of the judiciary. They stressed that the Supreme Court has every constitutional right and power to provide input on amendments affecting its structure and functions. The letter urged CJP Afridi to convene an urgent full court session to deliberate on the amendment and formulate a coordinated institutional response to the federal government.

The letter also highlighted that the amendment could significantly affect the balance of power between federal institutions, potentially undermining the judiciary’s independence and public confidence in Pakistan’s constitutional framework. Senior lawyers emphasized that such changes are not only legal but political in nature, which is why a unified judicial stance is critical.