Pak minister warns of CJP-style uprising, says, Munir alone won't deliver

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned of a CJP-like protest in the Islamic Republic, saying that the frustrated young people could "overturn everything" if they united.Hours later, he added that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Asim Munir's efforts would not produce lasting results unless politicians reformed Pakistan's governance system. The remarks from Pakistan's Interior Minister, coming days after the protests led by the CJP in India led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, are significant.That's because the statement comes from the minister of interior (equivalent to Home in India) as Pakistan grapples with economic distress, unemployment, political polarisation and the Munir-led establishment is trying to contain unrest in Balochistan, POK and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.While Naqvi did not mention India's CJP by name, he was warned about the consequences of disillusioned Pakistani youth uniting.His remarks came on a day when hundreds of students gathered in Islamabad to back protesters in POK, where the establishment's deadly crackdown had resulted in the killing of dozens of civilians. COCKROACHES CAN OVERTURN EVERYTHING: NAQVIAddressing the Pakistan Economic Summit in Islamabad on Thursday, Naqvi argued that Pakistan's governance structure had effectively collapsed, according to reports."The system we are living under has collapsed. Problems cannot be solved through it," he said, warning that Pakistan would continue discussing the same issues a decade from now unless structural reforms were undertaken, according to Geo News. Calling for administrative restructuring, Naqvi proposed creating new administrative units and devolving greater powers to lower levels of government. He said merit-based employment, rather than financial assistance, remained the biggest demand among Pakistan's youth."What matters to the common people is that we get justice, that merit prevails, and that we have job opportunities," said Naqvi, who grabbed headlines in India for leaving with the Asia Cup 2025 trophy, after Team India defeated Pakistan and declined to accept the silverware from the politician-administrator."Now, whether you call that young person a youth, a cockroach, or anything else... if these cockroaches unite, they can overturn everything," he said, according to Sama TV.MUNIR ALONE CANNOT FIX PAKISTAN: NAQVILater in the day, while speaking informally to journalists, Naqvi expanded on what he believed was Pakistan's deeper challenge, reported Geo News.He said the efforts of Asim Munir "would not yield lasting results unless politicians worked together to reform Pakistan's governance system.""Unless politicians fix the country's system, the Field Marshal's hard work will be of no benefit," Naqvi said.He added that Munir had repeatedly maintained he would not allow democracy to be derailed and urged all major political parties to work together to improve governance.Naqvi argued that PM Shehbaz Sharif might be working 12 to 14 hours every day, but described that effort as "firefighting" unless accompanied by institutional reforms.Pakistan's mounting debt, weak governance, slow administrative processes and lack of merit-based opportunities all required structural rather than temporary solutions, he argued.- EndsPublished By: Shounak SanyalPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 16:09 IST