Khawaja Asif names bureaucracy Pakistan’s ‘real, permanent rulers’

 Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described Pakistan’s bureaucracy as the country’s “real and permanent rulers,” saying politicians and other ruling classes have faced accountability over the past 78 years, while the bureaucracy has largely remained beyond scrutiny.

Sharing a post alleging financial corruption by a senior bureaucrat, Asif said there were numerous examples of politicians being held accountable in Pakistan’s history, while examples involving other ruling classes also existed. However, he said it was difficult to find comparable instances of bureaucratic accountability.

Referring to a former bureaucratic ruler, Asif said the official used highly abusive language against politicians, who tolerated his conduct. He added that if bureaucrats who served as ministers and advisers over the past 78 years were counted, their number would also be substantial.

Asif said that if the bureaucracy had now become an untouchable class with no one willing to hold it accountable, politicians and their weaknesses were ultimately responsible for the situation, while bureaucrats were merely beneficiaries of it.

He said the nationalisation policy introduced in the 1970s gave the bureaucracy control over the country’s business institutions. According to Asif, the assets taken into state control were subsequently destroyed, but successive governments failed to question the powerful and unaccountable elements responsible.