ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Thursday that he and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were largely aligned on resetting the system, but any major decision would require consensus among political parties.
Speaking at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Naqvi distinguished Bilawal’s proposed political reset from his own call for an overall reset. He said the PPP, PML-N and other coalition partners would be consulted, dismissing speculation about divisions within the government.
On creating new provinces, Naqvi proposed a referendum, saying political parties should respect the public’s decision despite their differing positions. Any alternative proposal should also be put before the public.
Addressing corruption, he acknowledged serious problems at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and said action had been taken against officials, including within the Interior Ministry. Five major CDA cases were being pursued, and the NCCIA had arrested a Grade-17 officer. He stressed that corruption must be acknowledged and addressed through evidence-based action.
Naqvi said the CDA had issued notices to approximately 5,000–6,000 people during a months-long campaign against encroachments on government land in Islamabad. The campaign targeted no particular individual, and those affected could seek legal remedies.
Highlighting NCCIA operations, he said the agency had uncovered an international examination fraud scheme involving about 5,000 Pakistanis. Action would also be taken against those who allegedly benefited. He praised Director General Atif and his team for exposing the operation.
The agency had also arrested 15 suspects over the previous month in pornography-related cases. They operated mainly from Lahore and were allegedly linked to international websites. Naqvi cited separate investigations involving a call centre and a child victim.
He said the NCCIA was digitising its complaint system to improve case tracking and accountability. Staffing and resource shortages continued to strain the agency despite round-the-clock work, and a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled for the following week to discuss its needs.
