Khawaja Asif says bureaucracy remained beyond accountability

He said members of the ruling elite had faced action over various allegations, including corruption and mismanagement, but bureaucracy remained protected from accountability and difficult to hold responsible. In Pakistan, every segment of the ruling elite has paid the price for its actions, justifiably or unjustifiably, whether for corruption, misrule, etc.

Only the bureaucracy has remained unscathed and untouchable. Pakistanis hardly realize that we have had rulers who were…https://t.co/dmbi. DmwY1L— Khawaja M.

Asif (@KhawajaMAsif)August 30, 2026Khawaja Asif said Pakistanis perhaps rarely realise that bureaucrats have also ruled the country. He pointed out that former Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad was a bureaucrat, while former Prime Minister Muhammad Ali was also a bureaucrat.

He added that former presidents Iskander Mirza and Ghulam Ishaq Khan were also bureaucrats, noting that all of this took place at a time when, apparently, political leaders were in power. The defence minister said bureaucrats were not held responsible, adding that the incompetence and mutual differences of politicians had created space for the bureaucracy.

Khawaja Asif further said that if politicians corrected themselves, reform and accountability would automatically emerge within the bureaucracy as well.