He was promoted by the bey, who made him his lieutenant (kahia) in 1613, and participated in missions to pacify the hinterland and collect taxes at the head of armed battalions called mhalla.
[1] Murad Bey enjoyed the respect of the Ottoman sultan, but also wide administrative autonomy and a unique degree of political independence, without doubt a result of his geographic distance from Constantinople and of the jihad which the Tunisian corsairs carried on against Christendom.
In fact, the government of Tunis (the dey, the bey, and the divan) were able to conclude peace treaties and commercial agreements with the rulers of the major states of Europe independently of the Sultan.
He contented himself with appointing a pasha, theoretically the supreme representative of the Ottoman government in Tunis, every three years and with receiving the traditional tribute in kind from the diwan on these occasions.
In the domain of art, the Great Mosque of Kairouan received some restoration work in the reign of Murad Bey who wished to leave his mark on the ancient monument, mostly some painted ceilings in the prayer hall.