Pakistan, Aug. 31 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan's bureaucracy remained largely protected from accountability and difficult to hold responsible. He said every other section of the ruling elite had faced consequences for its actions. He made the remarks while discussing governance, corruption and administrative failures in Pakistan. According to Asif, various members of the ruling elite faced action over corruption and mismanagement allegations. However, he said bureaucrats largely remained outside the reach of accountability mechanisms.

Asif also highlighted the historical influence of bureaucrats in Pakistan's political system. He said many important national leaders had backgrounds in the civil service. He cited for...