Amid reports of Army Chief Asim Munir’s growing influence over governance in Islamabad, Pakistan’s ruling elite seems to be losing faith in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s elected government.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has raised concerns about what he described as a “significant exodus” of bureaucrats, claiming that many planned their relocation to foreign nations while still in office.
“They [bureaucrats] prepared for this while they were employed by the Government of Pakistan, doing so under a deliberate plan. He added that the officers whose names emerged in connection with the matter had held important positions and were close to successive governments. The minister also raised questions about the commitment of such bureaucrats, asking whether their loyalty to Pakistan remained beyond suspicion throughout their careers. The current Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (N) government, standing with the support of the Pakistan People’s Party, is seen as dependent on Asim Munir, whose fortunes at home received a tremendous boost since he found a place in US President Donald Trump’s good books.
This raises questions about their commitment to their homeland and their jobs during their tenure,” Asif said. The Defence Minister, according to an Express Tribune report, noted that Portugal had emerged as one of the favoured destinations for what he described as a “bureaucratic exodus” in recent years. Asif also raised doubts about the conduct of officials who, he said, had enjoyed opportunities to accumulate wealth through both legitimate and illegitimate means while remaining favoured by politicians.
