India, Aug. 8 -- Questions over Pakistan's political future have intensified after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the country's governance system as having effectively "collapsed", prompting fresh speculation about whether Field Marshal Asim Munir could move from behind-the-scenes influence to formal political control.

The remarks have attracted particular attention because Naqvi is widely regarded as one of Munir's closest allies within Pakistan's powerful military establishment.

Coming at a time when the civilian government is facing mounting political, economic and security pressures, his comments have fuelled debate over whether Pakistan's long-running hybrid system of military and civilian rule could be approaching anothe...