Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a major constitutional amendment granting lifelong legal immunity to army chief Asim Munir, expanding his powers, and curbing those of the Supreme Court — a move the opposition described as a “death blow to democracy”, news agency ANI reported.

The National Assembly approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with more than a two-thirds majority on Wednesday, with 234 lawmakers voting in favour and only four against, according to Dawn. The 59-clause bill had been cleared by the Senate earlier this week with 64 votes in favour and none opposed, as opposition members boycotted the proceedings.