Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said he largely agreed with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s criticism of Pakistan’s governance system, but urged him to pursue reforms through constitutional institutions and begin by implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) within his own ministry.

In a post on X, Asif said he shared Naqvi’s concerns about the state of the system, arguing that Pakistan’s institutional evolution had remained hostage to “group and personal interests” for decades.

“I personally agree, more or less, with these views,” Asif wrote, adding that the country’s governance system needed to be freed from vested interests.

However, he said any effort to strengthen the system and introduce fundamental reforms should be debated in parliament and the federal cabinet, where Naqvi serves as a member.

“If the objective is to strengthen the system and bring about fundamental change, the appropriate forum is parliament or the federal cabinet. This would strengthen institutions and ensure reforms proceed through the constitutional process,” he said.

‘Public forum not the right place’

Asif said Naqvi was a respected and influential member of the cabinet, but argued that discussing such major constitutional issues before a gathering of business leaders was less effective than raising them in parliament or the cabinet.

He also noted that Naqvi had held “one of the most powerful positions” in the system for the past three-and-a-half years and could have initiated reforms during that period.

“Better late than never,” the defence minister remarked.

‘Begin with National Action Plan’

Referring to Friday’s press briefing by Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Asif said the military had fulfilled the National Action Plan point assigned to the armed forces through the sacrifices of its personnel.

He added that the remaining 12 points of the NAP fell under the Interior Ministry’s responsibility and had yet to be fully implemented.

“If you truly want to change the system, begin with implementing the National Action Plan. Start the process of reform from your own ministry,” Asif said, adding that “not only the respected business community but the entire nation will stand with you.”

Naqvi’s remarks fuel political debate

Naqvi sparked a political debate earlier this week while addressing an economic summit in Islamabad, where he said Pakistan’s current governance system had lost its ability to solve the country’s problems.

“The system has collapsed, whether people accept it or not,” he said, calling for an administrative reset, the creation of new administrative units and new provinces to improve governance.

His remarks have since drawn responses from across the political spectrum.

On Friday, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described Naqvi’s comments as his personal opinion and declined to comment directly on them. However, he stressed that good governance was essential for addressing Pakistan’s challenges and said any administrative reset should take place within the constitutional and legal framework.

Naqvi’s remarks have also been criticised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has supported his arguments. The debate over governance reforms and the proposal for new provinces continues in political circles.