The Pakistan Institute for Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), while releasing its annual review report on the quality of democracy in Pakistan, has said that democratic institutions were successful in maintaining their constitutional form during the year 2025, but democracy faced several challenges at the practical level.
According to the report, the hybrid governance model gained strength in 2025 rather than facing any major resistance, while the 27th Constitutional Amendment was passed with limited debate and limited consensus, which raised questions from civil society and legal circles.
PILDAT pointed out that the vacancy of the position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate affected parliamentary oversight and effective representation. According to the report, this gap weakened the balance in the legislative process.
Regarding the judicial system, the report said that during 2025, the judiciary faced significant structural changes, including the establishment of a new Federal Constitutional Court, which was described as a significant development in the context of judicial independence.
According to constitutional experts, the apparent continuity of institutions does not fully reflect democracy. They say that parliamentary oversight, free political dialogue and balance between institutions are indispensable for true democracy.
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