Mohsin Naqvi Says Governance Reform Remarks Were Not Aimed at Any Political Party
LAHORE, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday that his previous remarks calling for an overhaul of Pakistan’s governance structure were not directed at any particular political party, seeking to clarify comments that had sparked an intense political debate over administrative reforms and the creation of new provinces.
Naqvi made the clarification while addressing the National Policy Dialogue in Lahore on September 5. His remarks followed weeks of discussion over his earlier assessment of Pakistan’s governance system and his call for structural reforms.
The interior minister had earlier proposed that all political parties hold a dialogue on reforming the country’s existing governance structure. He had also advocated the creation of new administrative units or provinces, arguing that reforms were urgently needed to improve governance and public service delivery.
His earlier comments generated strong reactions across Pakistan’s political spectrum. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) referred the issue to its senior decision-making forum, while Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah rejected the proposal. Lawyers in Lahore also criticised the idea, while Sindhi nationalist groups called for Naqvi’s resignation.
Naqvi subsequently sought to explain that his criticism concerned what he described as Pakistan’s decades-old governance structure rather than the current political setup. In August, he said he stood by his assessment that the system had deteriorated but stressed that he was referring to a system developed over roughly 80 years.
He also rejected speculation that his comments suggested an imminent change in the political setup, saying the incumbent government would complete its constitutional five-year term.
Khawaja Asif Had Challenged Naqvi’s Reform Call
The debate also exposed differences within the federal cabinet.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded to Naqvi’s earlier comments by suggesting that reforms should begin with the Interior Ministry itself and implementation of the National Action Plan. He also urged Naqvi, who additionally chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board, to initiate reforms within the PCB.
Naqvi’s initial proposal had gone beyond general criticism of governance. He argued that Pakistan needed additional administrative units to bring government services closer to citizens and improve accountability and access to justice. He also called for new leadership and said young Pakistanis wanted jobs, merit and justice.
The debate gained additional significance when the military’s spokesperson also urged political parties to consider an administrative reset, arguing that Pakistan’s security and stability required its governance structure to adapt to modern requirements and population growth.
However, political opposition to the idea has remained substantial, particularly over the prospect of carving new provinces out of existing ones.
Creating new provinces in Pakistan would require a constitutional process and cannot be achieved solely through an executive decision. Consequently, any significant restructuring would require broad political and parliamentary consensus.
Naqvi’s latest clarification appears aimed at separating his proposal for structural governance reform from criticism of any individual political party or government. The wider debate, however, is likely to continue as political parties consider competing proposals for new provinces, stronger local governments and administrative decentralisation.
