Pakistan has rejected the statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying it does not reflect ground realities.
A Foreign Office spokesperson expressed deep concern over the ‘baseless and misinformed’ remarks on the amendment, which was passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The spokesperson emphasized that, like other democracies, constitutional amendments in Pakistan fall under the authority of the country’s elected representatives, and the proper procedures enshrined in the Constitution were followed for the 27th amendment.
“Pakistan remains committed to human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law in accordance with its Constitution,” the spokesperson said. “While we value the work of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is regrettable that the issued statement does not accurately reflect Pakistan’s perspective or ground realities.”
The Foreign Office urged the UN High Commissioner to respect the sovereign decisions of Pakistan’s Parliament and avoid comments that reflect political bias or misinformation.
Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk had expressed concerns that Pakistan’s rushed constitutional amendments could severely undermine judicial independence and raise serious questions regarding military accountability, the rule of law, and its enforcement. He also noted that broad immunity clauses could weaken accountability, which is a cornerstone of the rule of law.
