ISLAMABAD, Aug 02 (Alliance News): Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has urged Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to initiate governance reforms from within the Interior Ministry, saying the entire nation would support meaningful institutional change.
In a post on X, Asif responded to Naqvi’s recent remarks that Pakistan’s governance system had “collapsed” and was no longer capable of effectively addressing the country’s challenges. The defence minister said he largely agreed with the assessment but stressed that reforms should begin through constitutional and institutional channels.
Naqvi, while addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit in Islamabad last week, had warned that Pakistan would continue to face the same governance challenges over the next decade unless comprehensive administrative reforms were introduced.
Asif said institutional reforms should be debated and implemented through Parliament and the federal cabinet, noting that Naqvi was a member of both forums. He added that strengthening governance through constitutional processes would reinforce state institutions and improve public confidence.
The defence minister said Pakistan’s institutional evolution had remained influenced by personal and group interests for decades and called for reforms that would place national interests above all else. He also argued that such critical issues should primarily be discussed within state institutions rather than before business forums.
Referring to Naqvi’s tenure in senior public offices over the past three-and-a-half years, Asif remarked that reforms could have been initiated earlier, adding, “Better late than never.”
Highlighting the National Action Plan (NAP), Asif referred to recent remarks by Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who outlined its 13 key points. According to Asif, the armed forces are implementing the security-related component through significant sacrifices, while the remaining measures fall under the Interior Ministry and require urgent implementation.
He urged Naqvi to begin systemic reforms by ensuring the effective implementation of the National Action Plan and introducing structural changes within the Interior Ministry, saying such efforts would receive nationwide support.
Separately, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also criticised Naqvi’s remarks. Addressing a public gathering in Hattian Bala, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said concerns over governance should be debated through democratic institutions rather than used to undermine Pakistan’s parliamentary system.
