Naqvi suggests referendum as 'solution' to debate on new administrative units

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU —Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday suggested that political parties hold a referendum to gauge the public’s opinion on the creation of new administrative units or provinces, terming it the “solution” to the ongoing debate. The security czar has whipped up a political storm over the past few months since he called for the formation of new administrative units in the country, saying the current “system” of governance had “collapsed” and needed a “reset”.

Replying to a media query at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore on Thursday, Naqvi noted that each political party had a right to disagree with another party or individual. At the same time, he observed that all parties stressed democracy and the supremacy of the people. Therefore, he said: “My only request to all political parties is that this is such an issue […] so they should hold a referendum. “Whatever the public’s opinion in the referendum is; if the public says [new units] should not be created, I am 100 per cent with them that they should not be created. [But], if the public says they should be made, then they should.” Naqvi noted that political parties had varying stances on the debate, with the PPP “having its own stance [and] some parties having their own stance while not saying anything officially”.

He again stressed that the solution was to take public opinion into account, suggesting that if there was a proposal for a “better solution”, that should also be presented to the people. Acknowledging the importance of allies in the ruling coalition, he said: “Everyone is a part of this government, and nothing will happen against their will.

And if something does happen, then it will be after taking everyone’s consensus.” “My only recommendation is that if we were to conclude this debate, then we should just take the people’s opinion,” he said. The minister had also affirmed in September that any new administrative units would only be formed with the public’s consent, while also doubling down on his call for new provinces.

Naqvi claims he and Bilawal ‘nearly on same page’ Responding to another question, Naqvi recalled recent remarks by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, wherein he had called for a “political reset” and encouraged unity among political parties. The security czar contended that he and Bilawal were “nearly on the same page”. “He (Bilawal) said that political matters are about to be reset, while my suggestion is that overall matters are about to be reset,” Naqvi elaborated.

In his remarks on Tuesday, the Bhutto scion had called for a “political reset”, wherein all political parties must unite for the sake of the country, rather than indulge in “unnecessary debates”. His call for political unity followed exchanges of harsh remarks in recent weeks between federal ministers and veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has now decided to strengthen his ties with the opposition.

The PPP chairman also questioned the need for “new experiments” when the country was confronted with much bigger challenges, particularly the economic crisis arising from the Middle East tensions. The same day, PPP’s Punjab chapter also strongly rejected any move towards the creation of new provinces, asserting that doing so will neither address soaring inflation nor rampant unemployment.

While Naqvi said he and Bilawal largely shared the same views, the PPP chairman in September had called for a parliamentary debate on the creation of new provinces. “So instead of [speaking at] business forums, Mohsin Naqvi should visit [Parliament],” he had remarked, an apparent reference to the first instance of Naqvi stressing the need for more administrative units while speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in July.

PPP, which rules Sindh and is also an ally of the PML-N government at the Centre, has strongly opposed the creation of a new province within Sindh. It has also maintained that any decision on the subject must be taken through the constitutional and parliamentary processes with political consensus. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent statement regarding the creation of 12 more provinces has also added to the debate on administrative units started by Naqvi. ‘Corruption exists across entire Pakistan’ In his talk with reporters, Naqvi was also asked about federal minister Chaudhry Salik’s recent remarks over alleged corruption in Punjab.

In response, he said: “If someone is saying that no corruption is taking place in Pakistan, then apologies but corruption exists across the entire country and it is our responsibility to end it.” The interior minister stressed the importance of highlighting corruption where it was present. The conversation on corruption started after PML-Q’s Salik criticised the incumbent Punjab government led by PML-N, alleging that he regularly heard complaints of corruption.

Incensed by his remarks, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sent a Rs5 billion defamation notice to Salik for levelling allegations of corruption against her government and demanded that he retract his remarks. Naqvi was also asked about a Capital Development Authority (CDA) notice issued in relation to the residence of the JUI-F chief, which he defended, stating, “This (CDA) campaign has been ongoing for months, and it is not against a certain individual.”