Is a silent coup underway in Pakistan?

Democracy has always been fragile in Pakistan, even when the country manages to have elections and a civilian government takes over Army General’s are smiling in the background – calling shots from behind. The present phase of democracy seems to be nearing an end in the country accustomed to the shadow of military influence. But it is different this time as democracy is not merely being undermined but quietly overwritten. The constitutional amendments that give immunity to General Munir for lifetime as to other Generals and subvert judiciary practically clear the way for army rule. Add to this the rumours that are flying about the demise of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in custody and you have the perfect recipe for an army takeover, albeit silently.
 The 27th Amendment, grants Army Chief General Asim Munir lifetime immunity. By legally formalising the military’s control over every significant arm of governance, is nothing but a “silent coup.” No tanks can be seen on the streets of Islamabad but it is a coup nevertheless. The present civilian government is little more than a puppet in the hands of the Army, which appears to be dictating terms without even acknowledging its objections. 
In Pakistan, the military has always been more than a stakeholder — it is a Puppeteer, an institution that cannot be seen but is everywhere. But never before has this power been so brazenly codified. By seeking constitutional immunity from prosecution, General Munir secures not merely personal protection but institutional dominance. It sets the precedent that the Army Chief stands above the law and are beyond accountability. In fact in given scenario General Munir is the law. And when that happens the first casualty is democracy.  The erosion of democratic system is not only constitutional — it is psychological and moral. As social media buzzes with news of Imran Khan’s  death, the authorities have not blinked. They have neither allowed his sisters to meet him nor released any video or photograph to confirm his well-being — only issuing a bland declaration that he is fine. Whether the rumours of his death are true or not, the state’s refusal to provide transparent proof of life has already rendered the people’s voices redundant — a strong sign that the present power structure does not care about the people and their anxieties. Though this silence is more than just trampling people’s aspiration, it tests the strength of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and smothers its morale. The present rulers, both de facto and de jure, have alienated themselves from the people—a clear sign of the erosion of democratic rule. Meanwhile, the PTI—the country’s largest political force  — has been systematically dismantled. Leaders are jailed or silenced. The judiciary stands compromised, cowed, and co-opted. Media outlets operate under suffocating restrictions. Parliament has been reduced to a talkshop. What is happening in Pakistan may not fit the textbook definition of a coup—because it is silent, bloodless, and orchestrated through legislation and the gradual usurping of power—but it is a coup nevertheless.