Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday called upon Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to commence efforts aimed at reforming Pakistan’s governance system starting from the Interior Ministry. He emphasized that meaningful reforms would receive widespread backing from the entire nation.
Asif responded to Naqvi’s recent statement declaring that the country’s governance framework had “collapsed” and was no longer capable of addressing ongoing challenges. The defence minister expressed broad agreement with this assessment but stressed that reforms should be pursued through parliamentary and federal cabinet channels, both of which Naqvi is a member.
Speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit in Islamabad last week, Naqvi warned that without fundamental administrative reforms, Pakistan would continue to face persistent difficulties over the next decade. However, Asif highlighted that strengthening institutions and implementing changes through constitutional processes would better reinforce the state’s foundations.
He further remarked that for decades, institutional development had been hindered by personal and group interests, which must be eliminated to enable genuine progress. Asif also noted that addressing such critical issues before business leaders rather than through official state institutions diminishes their impact.
Pointing out that Naqvi has held some of the country’s most influential positions over the past three and a half years, Asif suggested that reform efforts could have been initiated earlier but welcomed the current call for change, stating, “Better late than never.”
Referring to the National Action Plan (NAP), Asif mentioned that Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry recently outlined its 13 points. He noted that while the armed forces are actively implementing one point through sacrifices, the remaining 12 fall under the Interior Ministry and have yet to be executed.
Asif urged Naqvi to begin systemic reforms by ensuring the full implementation of the NAP and initiating changes within his ministry. He added that such efforts would not only gain the support of the business community but also the entire nation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah criticized Naqvi’s remarks, suggesting that those who have benefited from the current system are now claiming it is dysfunctional. Speaking at a public event in Hattian Bala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Saturday, Sanaullah stated that some individuals had achieved in three and a half years what others took decades to accomplish, yet they now argue the system cannot progress.
He defended Pakistan’s parliamentary democratic structure and insisted that concerns about the system should be addressed through democratic institutions rather than used to undermine the parliamentary order.
