Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said new provinces should be created through a public referendum, adding that people should decide the future administrative structure of the country.
Speaking to media during his visit to National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) office in Lahore on Thursday, Naqvi said public opinion should determine whether new provinces should be established.
Naqvi said a public referendum would be the best way to decide the issue of new provinces.
“The best solution for new provinces is to seek public opinion. Hold a public referendum. If people vote in favour of new provinces, they should be created,” he said.
He added that public surveys already showed support for new provinces. He said every political party had the right to its opinion, but the people should have the final say in a democracy.
“If there is a better solution, we should also go to the people for it,” he added.
Naqvi also said he and Bilawal Bhutto were on the same page, adding that everything was about to be reset.
System to Be Fixed
The interior minister said the entire system needed to be fixed and corruption should not be ignored.
“Corruption exists across Pakistan. Where there is corruption, acknowledge it and bring it to an end,” he said.
He stressed the need to identify corruption and take action against those involved.
Islamabad Land Grabbing
Commenting on illegal land occupation in Islamabad, Naqvi said notices had been issued to thousands of people, not just Maulana.
“Land in Islamabad has been occupied without any regard for the law. Notices were not issued only to Maulana. They were issued to 5,000 to 6,000 people,” he sai.
He made it clear that action against illegal occupation was not limited to any individual and that everyone would face the law.
NCCIA role
Naqvi also praised NCCIA for busting a gang involved in helping 5,000 Pakistanis cheat in international university examinations.
He further revealed that 15 people involved in operations linked to obscene content had been arrested in Lahore and other parts of Punjab.
Speaking about online blackmail cases, Naqvi said women were the main targets in most such incidents. He stressed that there would be zero tolerance for those blackmailing girls.
He recalled an incident during an open court hearing where five girls spoke about taking their own lives after facing blackmail and failing to receive relief.
Naqvi said the people involved in blackmailing the girls had now been arrested.
He also announced that the NCCIA complaint cell would be linked with NADRA to improve complaint handling and monitoring.
The minister said he would soon meet the prime minister to discuss increasing the NCCIA’s capacity.
“If NCCIA is given the required resources, the institution can achieve even more success,” he said.
