'Better late than never': Khawaja Asif supports Naqvi's call for system overhaul

Even as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders criticised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his remarks on the country's political system, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif came out in support of his call for reforms on Saturday, while urging him to raise the matter in parliament and the federal cabinet. Earlier this week, Naqvi called for the creation of additional administrative units or provinces to overhaul what he described as the country's outdated governance system. Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad, he argued that Pakistan's existing governance model had effectively "collapsed" after decades of failing to deliver and said decentralisation was essential to improve public services, ensure timely justice and create opportunities for young people. Read: Governance system has collapsed: Naqvi His remarks drew mixed reactions, with several PML-N leaders criticising him and describing him as one of the beneficiaries of the existing system. Among them was PML-N leader and Prime Minister's aide Rana Sanaullah, who questioned how Naqvi could criticise the current political system after rising to the office of interior minister through the same system in just three and a half years. However, Asif took a different position from his party colleague, saying he largely agreed with the interior minister's assessment. "Mohsin Naqvi Sahib expressed his views on the system's shortcomings. Personally, I largely agree with these views," the defence minister said in a post on X. محسن نقوی صاحب نے سسٹم کی کسمپرسی پہ اپنے خیالات کا اظہار کیا۔ میں ذاتی طور پہ ان خیالات سے کم و بیش اتفاق کرتا ھوں ۔ نقوی صاحب تو ماشا ءاللہ خود ایک پاور ھاؤس ھیں میں بھی بحثیت ایک سیاسی ورکر شدت سے محسوس کرتا ھوں سسٹم کا ارتقائ عمل یا evolution کا پراسیس دہائیوں سے گروہی و… — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) August 1, 2026 Describing Naqvi as "a powerhouse in his own right", Asif said that as a political worker he believed the country's political system had, for decades, evolved under the influence of group and personal interests and needed to be freed from them. He, however, said that if the objective was to strengthen the system and bring about fundamental change, the appropriate forum for such a debate was parliament — of which Naqvi is a member — or the federal cabinet. "This will strengthen these institutions and the system, and the change will go through the constitutional process," he said. Calling Naqvi "a highly respected and credible member" of the cabinet, Asif said discussions on such far-reaching reforms would carry greater weight if held in the relevant constitutional forums rather than before "a captive audience" of businessmen. He noted that Naqvi had occupied some of the country's most influential positions over the past three and a half years and could have raised or pursued the issue of systemic reform during that period. "Well, better late than never," Asif remarked. Referring to the National Action Plan (NAP), the defence minister said the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations had recently referred to its 13 points. He said implementation of the point assigned to the armed forces was being carried out through sacrifices, whereas implementation of the remaining 12 points, which fell under the Ministry of Interior's responsibility, had yet to take place. Addressing the interior minister directly, Asif said: "Naqvi Sahib, begin the change of the system with the implementation of the National Action Plan. Begin the change in the system from your own ministry. Not just our respected business community, the entire nation is with you."

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JAAC responds to Bilawal’s letter, shows willingness to join truth commission talks

The protesting Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee on Saturday expressed its willingness to engage with the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it responded to a letter written by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on the initiative. The development came after the JAAC wrote a letter to Bilawal on July 14, to which the PPP chairman responded by reiterating his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the consent of all stakeholders. In response to the letter, the JAAC conveyed its willingness to consider the proposed commission as a possible way forward to address the recent violence and political crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal,” Bilawal said in a post on X. I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal. Every loss of life is a national tragedy. My immediate priority is to help end the present crisis, bring relief and… — Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) August 1, 2026 Describing every loss of life as a national tragedy, the PPP chairman said his immediate priority was to help end the crisis, provide relief and restore normal life for the people of AJK as quickly as possible. “I welcome their willingness to engage with the proposed commission as a possible institutional path forward, one now endorsed by the AJK Legislative Assembly, and will study their proposal carefully,” he added. Bilawal said he would also consult the AJK prime minister, who would approach the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to seek their initial views and assess whether sufficient common ground existed to move forward with a consensus proposal. Read: Bilawal pitches truth and reconciliation commissions for AJK Last month, while addressing PPP office-bearers and election candidates in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal had proposed the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help resolve the ongoing political crisis in the region. He had suggested that the commission should have a broad mandate to examine the prevailing situation, establish facts, consider grievances and positions of all sides, review outstanding political, legal and administrative issues, and recommend a fair and lasting way forward. He had warned that maintaining the status quo in AJK could harm both the Kashmir cause and Pakistan’s international reputation, urging all stakeholders to seek a political solution. Earlier this week, the AJK Legislative Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent truth commission to investigate the recent unrest, examine deaths, injuries and property losses, and recommend relief measures and reforms. The resolution followed clashes between law enforcement personnel and JAAC protesters in Rawalakot, with reports of deaths and injuries. Both security forces and the JAAC claimed casualties during the unrest. The assembly resolution urged peaceful protesters, political workers, traders and young people to distance themselves from “armed, violent, subversive and law-breaking elements”. Also Read: AJK assembly passes resolution seeking truth commission into recent unrest The unrest drew condemnation from political parties and rights groups following reports of casualties during the protests. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed concern over the reports, stressing that maintaining public order should not come at the expense of the right to life or the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression. It called for a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the reported deaths and injuries. Opposition parties also criticised the violence. The PTI called for an immediate, independent, transparent and impartial judicial investigation, describing the reported deaths and injuries as an attack on human rights, democratic values and civil liberties. The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-AJK Pakistan condemned what it described as the use of excessive force against protesters. At the same time, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the firing on civilians as “open terrorism”. The recent unrest follows a period of political tensions in AJK, where the JAAC had previously led protests over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. The committee’s charter of demands included ending privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, abolishing 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in the AJK Legislative Assembly and ending the quota system. Following earlier unrest, the government and JAAC had reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to establish a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The issue remains unresolved, with the JAAC calling for the abolition of the reserved seats while the government has rejected the demand.

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