A combination of file photos shows Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
ISLAMABAD:
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said that any meaningful structural reforms should be debated through Parliament and the federal cabinet rather than at public forums, urging Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to begin the process with his own ministry and by implementing the remaining points of the National Action Plan (NAP).
In a detailed response to Naqvi’s remarks advocating new administrative units and provinces on X, Asif said he largely agreed with the interior minister’s assessment that the country’s governance structure required fundamental reform, but argued that constitutional institutions were the appropriate platforms for initiating such a debate.
He also questioned the decision to raise the issue before representatives of the business community, saying discussions of such significance would carry greater weight if held in Parliament or the cabinet.
“Mr Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his views on the plight of the system. Personally, I largely agree with those views. Mr Naqvi, Mashallah, is himself a powerhouse. As a political worker, I also strongly feel that the system’s evolutionary process has, for decades, remained hostage to group and personal interests. It needs to be freed from that,” Asif wrote.
The defence minister said that if the objective was to strengthen the system and introduce fundamental change, the matter should be discussed in Parliament, of which Naqvi is a member, or in the federal cabinet, so that reforms could proceed through the constitutional process.
“I have a few suggestions. If we want to strengthen the system and bring about fundamental change, the proper forum is Parliament, of which Mr Naqvi is a member. The matter can also be discussed in the cabinet. That would strengthen both the institutions and the system, and any change would pass through the constitutional process.”
While describing Naqvi as a respected member of the cabinet, Asif said that the interior minister attended meetings of Parliament and the cabinet only occasionally.
“Mr Naqvi is a highly respected and important member of the cabinet. It is another matter that he attends meetings of these two institutions – Parliament and the cabinet – only occasionally.”
He argued that bypassing constitutional institutions diminished the impact of calls for reform.
“By rendering these institutions irrelevant and inviting the country’s distinguished and respected business community to speak before a captive audience on such an important issue, I do not believe it carries the same impact that it would if raised in the relevant constitutional forums.”
Asif also noted that Naqvi had held some of the country’s most powerful offices over the past three and a half years and could have initiated discussions on systemic reform during that period.
“Mr Naqvi has occupied some of the most powerful positions in the system for the past three and a half years. Had he wished, he could have initiated discussion or progress on systemic reform during this period. Better late than never.”
Referring to the military’s recent briefing on the National Action Plan, Asif recalled that the Director General ISPR had spoken about its 13 points, saying the armed forces had fulfilled the responsibility assigned to them through immense sacrifices, while the remaining points fell under the interior ministry.
“Yesterday, the DG ISPR referred to the 13 points of the National Action Plan. One point, which was the responsibility of our armed forces, has been implemented and fulfilled through the sacrifice of lives. The remaining 12 points fall under the responsibility of the Interior Ministry, and they have yet to be implemented.”
Calling on Naqvi to translate his remarks into action, the defence minister urged him to begin reforms within his own ministry.
“Mr Naqvi should begin changing the system by implementing the National Action Plan. Let the process of reform begin with his own ministry. Not only our respected business community but the entire nation stands with him.”
Meanwhile, addressing a public gathering in Jhelum Valley, Rana Sanaullah also criticised Naqvi over his remarks.
Describing Naqvi as a “blessed one” of President Zardari, Sanaullah said the interior minister had “made the [political] journey of 30 years in three-and-a-half years”.
“You began from where and have now reached where, and now you realise that this system is completely dysfunctional,” he added.
