Pakistan: Political debate erupts after Interior Minister's remarks on the "collapse of the governance system"

Islamabad – Agencies: Statements by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, suggesting that the ruling system in Pakistan is on the verge of collapse, have sparked controversy in Islamabad. These remarks have led some politicians to predict the imminent fall of the government, amid signs that it is losing the support of the military establishment.

Railway Minister and senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Janjua Nawaz Sharif’s Hanif Abbasi, expressed surprise at talk of government failure during a speech before a parliamentary session, accusing those behind the narrative of seeking fame. He said, “It is strange that those who claim the system is collapsing are part of it themselves. Mohsin Naqvi holds a sovereign position as Interior Minister, yet he speaks of government failure and the collapse of the ruling system. He either wants fame or has another agenda.”

Meanwhile, senior PML-N leader and Planning Minister Ashfaq Iqbal, speaking at a public gathering, stated that “the system is very strong and cannot collapse.” He added that “those talking about the government’s collapse appear to have accomplished nothing in their positions, and therefore should resign rather than speak of the country’s ruling system collapsing.”

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif implicitly contradicted Naqvi’s remarks by saying the “system is very weak,” while clarifying that he “rules out the government’s fall at this time.” He acknowledged that there are many mistakes and significant flaws in the ruling system, but insisted it is “not on the verge of collapse.”