Bureaucracy remained beyond accountability: Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that bureaucracy has remained the only segment of Pakistan’s ruling elite

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that bureaucracy has remained the only segment of Pakistan’s ruling elite that largely escaped accountability and remained beyond scrutiny.

In a statement, Asif said every other section of the ruling elite in Pakistan had, at different times, faced consequences for its actions. He noted that members of the ruling class had been subjected to proceedings over allegations ranging from corruption and mismanagement to other misconduct.

The defence minister said many Pakistanis may not realise that bureaucrats have also played a major role in governing the country.

He pointed out that former Governor General Ghulam Muhammad was a bureaucrat before taking the country’s highest office. He also cited former prime minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, who had served in the bureaucracy before entering politics.

Asif further noted that former presidents Iskander Mirza and Ghulam Ishaq Khan also had bureaucratic backgrounds.

According to the minister, this influence of bureaucracy continued even during periods when political leaders appeared to hold formal control of the government.

However, Asif said he did not believe that bureaucrats alone should be blamed for the situation. He argued that political leaders’ incompetence and internal differences had created space for the bureaucracy to exercise greater influence over state affairs.

He maintained that politicians needed to first put their own house in order if they wanted meaningful reforms within the bureaucracy.

“Political reform will automatically bring reform and accountability to the bureaucracy,” Asif said, stressing that stronger political leadership was essential for improving governance.

His remarks come amid an ongoing debate over the balance of power between elected governments and the permanent state machinery.