Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clearly stated that there are no signs the current government is coming to an end. Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada k Sath, he described the existing hybrid system as a real chance to fix the mistakes made in the past.
Asif said he does not believe the present setup will collapse. According to him, the main purpose of this hybrid system is to correct earlier errors and find lasting solutions for Pakistan’s problems. He stressed that the hybrid system remains the only practical way forward. Four or five top leaders of the country need to sit together and decide the next steps. He specifically named President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and a few other key figures who should hold discussions on the future course.
The minister made these comments while responding to recent remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi had said at the Pakistan Economic Summit that the country’s governance system has collapsed and can no longer solve the nation’s challenges. He called for major administrative reforms, including the creation of new provinces or units, and warned that without fundamental changes Pakistan would still face the same issues ten years from now.
A day later, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry highlighted that good governance is extremely important for Pakistan’s security. He noted that if problems remain unsolved, steps must be taken to improve governance.
Khawaja Asif pointed out a clear difference between Naqvi’s statement and the ISPR DG’s position. He fully agreed with the military spokesperson that Naqvi’s comments carried a political angle and reflected his personal view. The defence minister reminded everyone that Naqvi has been part of the current system for more than three and a half years. Asif repeated that the interior minister spoke in his personal capacity and that the military’s spokesperson had also described the remarks in the same way.
Overall, the defence minister presented the hybrid system as a workable arrangement that still has the strength to deliver results if the right people sit together and take collective decisions.
