Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has sharply criticized the idea of a “hybrid system” of governance, calling it an open admission of dictatorship and a failure of constitutional rule. Speaking at the Karachi Bar Association on Thursday, Minallah argued that the term—often used to describe the military’s influential role in civilian affairs—masks a deeper erosion of democratic principles.
The phrase “hybrid system” gained prominence after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif praised the arrangement in July. But Justice Minallah countered that such language only normalizes what is effectively an unconstitutional structure. “To say there is a hybrid system is to say there is dictatorship—and no constitutional governance,” he stated.
Minallah placed blame on what he described as “elite capture” of institutions, arguing that a lack of adherence to the rule of law has allowed powerful groups to dominate. He expressed regret over the judiciary’s historical role, acknowledging that past generations of judges—including his own—had failed to uphold constitutional ideals.
“We are taught distorted history,” he said. “The truth is, societies that suppress truth are ultimately destroyed.”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s history, Minallah cited the dissolution of the constituent assembly in the civil-military bureaucracy as a root cause of the country’s breakup in 1971. He emphasized that the Constitution exists to ensure the people’s will is expressed through fair elections—without political engineering or interference.
Looking ahead, Minallah called on the younger generation to lead change through idealism and a renewed commitment to constitutional governance. “Fundamental rights are meaningless without freedom of expression,” he noted, drawing a direct line between past suppression of dissent and national fragmentation.
The justice concluded by urging judges at all levels to honor their oaths to defend the Constitution without fear—and reminded all institutions that they are accountable not only to the people, but to a higher moral authority.
