Will Pak PM complete term? Mohsin Naqvi clears air on 'system collapse' remark

Pakistan's all-powerful interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would complete his five-year tenure even though he doubled down on his remark that the governance system has "collapsed". The startling remark by Naqvi, who has close ties with army chief Asim Munir, at the Pakistan Economic Summit last week had generated fervent speculation about the survival of the Sharif government. It had also laid bare the fault lines within Pakistan's hybrid political structure.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Naqvi cleared the air on the future of the PML-N government. "The future for the government is the completion of its five-year tenure. Shehbaz Sharif will remain the prime minister for five years. He will complete his five-year term," Naqvi said.

Regarding Pakistan, such statements, however, should be taken with a pinch of salt. The historically brief tenures of civilian governments in Pakistan are no secret. In fact, since 1947, no Pakistani prime minister has completed a full five-year term. Blame it on military coups, assassinations, and forced resignations.

MOHSIN NAQVI STIRS STORM IN PAKISTAN

The interior minister, who also controls the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had stirred a hornet's nest with two back-to-back sensational statements.

At the Pakistan Economic Summit, Naqvi declared that the country's governance system had "collapsed" and called for new provinces to handle the crisis.

A couple of days later, he claimed to have uncovered the "biggest corruption scandal" in Pakistan's history, allegedly involving judges, bureaucrats and politicians. Significantly, Naqvi promised that "every person responsible" would be prosecuted.

The remarks intensified speculation about whether Pakistan was heading towards a major power shake-up. The next elections in Pakistan are scheduled for 2029.

It also brought into sharp focus an apparent rift between the Sharif government and Naqvi. Notably, Naqvi is not a member of any political party, yet is arguably the most powerful person in Pakistani government after the prime minister.

Defence minister Khawaja Asif went as far to assert that Naqvi was a "powerhouse" who is not answerable to anyone.

CLARIFIES 'SYSTEM COLLAPSE' REMARK

On Thursday, Naqvi reiterated that the "system has been destroyed" but added that it did not amount to a "chargesheet" against the present government.

Naqvi clarified that he was referring to Pakistan's "80-year-old (administrative) system".

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