Cracks within Pakistan's power structure are becoming increasingly visible. Just days after claiming that the country's governance system had "collapsed", Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made another explosive statement, alleging that he had uncovered the "biggest scam" in Pakistan's history. He claimed the alleged scam involved judges, bureaucrats, politicians and bankers, though he did not identify anyone by name. His remarks have fuelled speculation about a possible political shake-up in the country.
Naqvi, who is considered close to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, said that every individual found responsible would face action. Addressing reporters, he claimed that no scandal of such magnitude had previously surfaced in Pakistan, alleging that multiple institutions were involved.
He further alleged that bribes had been paid and accepted for over two decades, adding that authorities would pursue everyone linked to the case. Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), declined to reveal the identities of those allegedly involved.
MOHSIN NAQVI'S GROWING INFLUENCE
Observers noted that Naqvi did not mention the military while referring to those involved in the alleged scam, suggesting that his comments were directed largely at Pakistan's civilian establishment. His public differences with the Shehbaz Sharif-led government have become increasingly evident in recent weeks.
Geopolitical and defence analyst Sandeep Unnithan told India Today that Naqvi, who transitioned from being a media owner to one of Pakistan's most influential politicians, has long been seen as someone with ambitions of becoming prime minister. According to him, Naqvi has consistently enjoyed the backing of Army chief Asim Munir and is believed to be related to him.
Analysts believe this close relationship was one of the reasons Munir appointed Naqvi as his special envoy to engage with the US and Iran during their recent tensions.
The move allowed Munir to project a civilian representative while keeping the Sharif government largely out of the diplomatic process.
Munir currently wields significant influence in Pakistan, extending beyond the military to foreign policy and economic matters. According to Unnithan, promoting Naqvi also serves as a broader message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
With Pakistan facing challenges in regions such as Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), analysts believe Munir could seek to consolidate his influence further by supporting Naqvi for a larger political role.
Unnithan also suggested that Naqvi may have been tasked with laying the groundwork for Munir to eventually assume a combined role as president and chief of the armed forces, similar to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
IS PAKISTAN HEADING FOR A POWER SHAKE-UP?
Naqvi, widely regarded as being close to the military establishment, sparked fresh debate at the Pakistan Economic Summit last week when he declared that Pakistan's decades-old governance structure had "collapsed". Many interpreted the remark as an indirect criticism of the Shehbaz Sharif government.
At the summit, Naqvi proposed creating new administrative units or provinces to improve governance, accountability and access to justice.
His proposal also received support from the military, whose spokesperson argued that administrative restructuring was necessary not only for better governance but also to strengthen national security.
The proposal has revived an old debate in Pakistan over whether the country's existing provinces have become too large and centralised to be governed efficiently.
Notably, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have largely avoided commenting on the issue.
Political observers say both parties draw their core electoral strength from Punjab and Sindh respectively, making any redrawing of provincial boundaries politically sensitive as it could reshape representation and administrative authority.
Naqvi's remarks have, however, drawn criticism from within the ruling establishment, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emerging as one of his strongest critics.
Asif pointed out that Naqvi has occupied a highly influential position for the past three years, describing him as a "powerhouse". He claimed that on several matters, Naqvi was not even accountable to the prime minister.
He questioned why someone with such authority continued to complain about the system, suggesting that if Naqvi's concerns were valid, other cabinet ministers might as well resign.
The defence minister also criticised Naqvi's limited participation in cabinet meetings and parliamentary proceedings, claiming he had attended only a handful of cabinet meetings and rarely appeared in Parliament.
Asif further challenged Naqvi to first reform his own ministry before calling for broader systemic changes. Referring to Naqvi's role as PCB chairman, he also remarked that cricket fans remained dissatisfied with the board's performance and urged him to bring about change there first.
The recent developments have exposed rare public disagreements among Pakistan's top leadership. With Naqvi openly criticising the existing system and promising action against influential figures, including judges and politicians, speculation is growing that Pakistan could be headed for another significant political realignment.
Such developments would not be unprecedented, given the military's longstanding dominance over Pakistan's political landscape.
