Berlin panel warns Pakistan’s 27th amendment will exacerbate human rights violations in Balochistan

A panel of analysts and rights advocates in Berlin expressed serious concerns about Pakistan’s recently adopted 27th Constitutional Amendment. They warned that the amendment could weaken the independence of the judiciary and expand the powers of the executive branch. These changes, they argued, could further diminish protections for citizens who are already vulnerable due to political exclusion and ongoing human rights abuses.

The discussion was moderated by former BBC correspondent Sahar Baloch and included political analyst Rafiullah Kakar and Abdullah Abbas, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB). The panel focused on the potential implications of the constitutional changes for Pakistan’s legal and political landscape, particularly emphasizing their impact on marginalized communities.

Kakar highlighted that the amendment “fundamentally reshapes” the relationship between the judiciary and the executive. He explained that it limits the courts’ authority to review or challenge actions taken by the government, thereby restricting judicial oversight. This shift, he warned, could significantly weaken the system of checks and balances that is essential for a healthy democracy.

He further expressed concern that these changes would hinder citizens, activists, and civil society organizations from seeking legal remedies. While rights are not explicitly abolished under the amendment, Kakar argued that their enforcement would become impossible as courts are stripped of their authority to uphold them. This collapse in legal recourse could have far-reaching consequences for justice and accountability.

Kakar also pointed out that the amendment undermines the inclusivity envisioned in Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution. He noted that the constitution was designed to recognize and protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, fostering a more inclusive political framework. The recent changes, he said, threaten to erode this foundational principle, marginalizing minorities further.

Abdullah Abbas focused specifically on the situation in Balochistan, a region with a long history of human rights violations. He emphasized that the impact of the amendment would be especially severe there, given the region’s existing struggles with enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Abbas noted that Balochistan’s legal institutions have already failed to offer meaningful protections for victims.

Citing data from HRCB, Abbas revealed that in 2025 alone, 1,455 people in Balochistan were subjected to enforced disappearances, with 538 killed. The organization also documented numerous cases of deaths in custody and staged encounters, illustrating a pattern of systemic abuse. Abbas stressed that, in practice, the Pakistani constitution’s protections are almost nonexistent in Balochistan.

He argued that recent amendments to Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act effectively legalize enforced disappearances and other human rights violations. Abbas drew parallels to China’s repression of Uyghurs through lawfare and surveillance, suggesting that similar tactics are now being employed in Balochistan. He described this development as the “institutionalization of repression,” which further consolidates state control at the expense of individual rights.

The panel concluded by warning that, without robust civic activism, legal advocacy, and international scrutiny, the 27th Amendment could accelerate the erosion of Pakistan’s democratic institutions. They emphasized that safeguarding judicial independence and human rights requires concerted efforts from civil society and the global community. Without such action, they warned, Pakistan’s fragile democratic checks and balances could be permanently undermined.