No signs present system coming to an end, says defence minister

• Agree with ISPR DG's position on Naqvi's remarks: Khawaja Asif.
• Defence czar says Naqvi's statement had political aspect to it.
• Naqvi part of current system for more than three years: minister.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said there were no indications that the incumbent government was nearing its end, describing the current "hybrid system" as an opportunity to "correct mistakes" made in the past.

"I do not think that the present system will come to an end. The objective of the hybrid system is to correct mistakes committed in the past," the defence minister said while speaking on Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada k Sath' on Friday.

According to Asif, the hybrid system was the only way to resolve the country's issues, saying that four or five big personalities of the country needed to sit together.

"President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the field marshal [Asim Munir] and four to five other big personalities need to sit to decide what to do," he added.

The defence minister made the remarks while responding to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's remarks that the country's existing governance system had "collapsed" and was no longer capable of addressing the country's challenges, calling for administrative reforms, including the creation of new administrative units or provinces.

Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit in Islamabad on July 30, Naqvi said: "The system we are living under has collapsed. Problems cannot be solved through it."

He said that Pakistan would continue to face the same challenges over the next decade unless fundamental reforms were introduced.

"If this system continues, we will still be sitting here 10 years from now discussing the same issues," the interior minister had said.

A day later, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry underscored the importance of good governance, saying it was "extremely important" for Pakistan’s security.

"Good governance is essential for Pakistan's security. If the issues are not being resolved, it means that something should be done for good governance," the ISPR DG said while addressing a press conference on Friday.

According to the ISPR DG, the country's challenges cannot be resolved without ensuring good governance in the country.

Meanwhile, the defence minister said there was a difference between the statements made by interior minister Mohsin Naqvi and the ISPR DG, arguing Naqvi's statement had a political aspect to it.

Asif said he fully agreed with the military's spokesperson's position that the interior minister's comments reflected his personal opinion, noting that Naqvi had been part of the current system for the past three and a half years.

He reiterated that Naqvi's remarks were made in his personal capacity and that the military's spokesperson had also described them as such.