Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has defended the nation’s “hybrid mannequin” of governance, the place the army and civilian management share energy, regardless of worldwide criticism of Pakistan’s weak democratic file and frequent human rights violations.
In an interview with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan, Asif dismissed claims that the army dominates Pakistan’s politics. He argued that either side civilian and army work collectively in working the nation.
Mehdi Hasan- “In each nation, the top of the Military stories to Defence Minster. In Pakistan, Defence Minister solutions to the top of Military”
Bhikharistan’s Defence Minster Khwaja Asif- “We’ve got Hybrid System”
WTF is Hybrid System?pic.twitter.com/zVXLfFta2N
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) September 28, 2025
Hasan questioned Asif concerning the system, calling it “unusual” and declaring that the military typically seems to carry extra authority than elected officers. He requested whether or not the Military Chief, Normal Asim Munir, was in truth extra highly effective than Asif himself. The minister rejected the suggestion, insisting, “No, it’s not like that… I’m a political appointee.”
Hasan additionally in contrast Pakistan’s system with that of the USA, the place the Secretary of Defence can dismiss generals. In response, Asif sharply remarked, “They (the US) have a distinct mannequin over there.”
Asif additional turned the criticism round by calling the US itself a “deep state,” making an attempt to deflect considerations about Pakistan’s democratic shortcomings.
Hybrid Mannequin Of Authorities
A hybrid authorities mixes options of parliamentary and presidential methods. Often, each a President and a Prime Minister share energy the PM handles day by day authorities work, whereas the President manages larger or ceremonial selections.
This technique balances energy, prevents one individual from dominating, and reduces clashes between branches. It’s versatile and adapts to altering conditions. International locations like France, Russia, and Finland use hybrid methods to mix stability with effectivity.
Hybrid Governance? A breeding System Of Authorities. How?
The hybrid mannequin of presidency is usually known as a ‘breeding system’ as a result of it’s a mixture of two totally different methods, normally parliamentary and presidential, very similar to how breeding combines traits from two species. It’s designed to inherit the strengths of each methods balancing energy, making certain stability, and sustaining accountability creating a brand new system that’s neither purely one nor the opposite.