Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has proposed a public referendum to decide whether to create new provinces in Pakistan, saying the decision should ultimately reflect the will of the people.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said new provinces should be established if the public supports the idea through a referendum. He added that existing public surveys also show support for creating new provinces.
He said that even if there were alternative proposals for addressing the issue, the matter should ultimately be presented to the public for a decision. Naqvi also said he and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were “on the same page” on the issue, adding that a comprehensive reset of the system was underway.
Commenting on the broader governance situation, the interior minister acknowledged that corruption was widespread across Pakistan and stressed the need to recognise and eliminate the problem. Regarding land encroachments in Islamabad, Naqvi said government land had been seized ruthlessly. He revealed that notices had been issued to between 5,000 and 6,000 people, clarifying that the action was not limited to the Maulana.
The minister also disclosed that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had uncovered a major scam involving a criminal network that allegedly helped around 5,000 Pakistanis pass examinations at international universities. Highlighting the growing threat of online harassment, Naqvi said women were the primary targets in most cybercrime-related cases. He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards individuals involved in blackmailing young women and girls.
