Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi declared on Wednesday that the current political system will remain intact and is set to complete its full constitutional term of five years. He emphasized that the existing framework is not going anywhere despite recent debates about governance reforms.
In a significant development, Naqvi stated he would recommend Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to initiate a thorough performance evaluation of all federal cabinet ministers. He proposed that this review be conducted by an independent third party, with the findings made public to highlight which ministries are performing effectively and which are lagging behind.
Addressing questions about his political career, Naqvi expressed gratitude to those who noted that he had compressed a 30-year political journey into just three years of active service. His earlier comments at an event last week had sparked speculation about potential changes to the governance system and the creation of new provinces. At that time, he had remarked that the current system had collapsed and called for the establishment of new administrative units to address ongoing challenges.
Clarifying his stance today, Naqvi reiterated that the system had deteriorated over the past 80 years, which has hindered Pakistan’s progress. He insisted that if the system had functioned properly, the country would have advanced significantly more. However, he rejected the notion that his statements were a condemnation of the government, stressing that as a member of the administration, he would not indict his own team.
Naqvi also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s dedication, noting that the premier works between 14 and 16 hours daily. He expressed confidence that improvements in the system would lead to exponential progress for the country. Despite the flawed system, the minister highlighted government achievements such as increased Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collections, diplomatic successes, and progress in various sectors.
Responding to rumors of discord with the prime minister, Naqvi dismissed such claims, stating that some individuals wish to see a rift between them but that no such deterioration exists.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) federal ministers responded to Naqvi’s remarks. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested that Naqvi should begin reforming the governance system from within the Interior Ministry itself. He pointed out that Naqvi has held some of the country’s most influential positions over the past three and a half years and could have initiated reforms during this time, adding, “Better late than never.”
Simultaneously, Minister Rana Sanaullah criticized Naqvi’s comments, arguing that those who have benefited from the current system are now claiming it is incapable of functioning. Sanaullah noted that some individuals have 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 framework and insisted that concerns about the system should be addressed through democratic institutions rather than used to undermine the parliamentary order.
