ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has directed senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders to avoid publicly responding to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s remarks about the country’s “collapsed system,” sources said.
Maintaining institutional harmony
According to the sources, Nawaz Sharif stressed that Pakistan’s economic, political, and security challenges require complete unity among state institutions. He said nothing should create the impression of differences between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Moreover, he highlighted the importance of preserving the close coordination between the elected government and military leadership. He added that institutional harmony remains essential for addressing national challenges through collective efforts.
Party concerns over public remarks
Meanwhile, sources said several senior PML-N leaders believed Mohsin Naqvi should have raised governance concerns during a federal cabinet meeting instead of a public event. They argued his remarks unintentionally questioned the government’s efforts to improve governance.
Furthermore, some leaders feared the speech created a politically damaging impression that meaningful reforms were impossible under the current administrative structure.
However, the sources rejected speculation about tensions between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. They maintained that the civil and military leadership remain on the same page regarding economic recovery, national security, investment facilitation, and governance reforms.
