Political differences no excuse for anti-state remarks, Mohsin Naqvi tells politicians

He described Fazlur Rehman’s remarks, reportedly made a day earlier, as highly inappropriate. “Political differences are one thing, but making anti-state remarks does not befit any politician,” Naqvi said, stressing that public figures should exercise caution when commenting on state institutions.

The interior minister also questioned the approach of politicians who, he alleged, supported the state when they benefited from it but turned against it when they were denied a share in power. He said it was inappropriate to attack the state when political circumstances did not favour a particular leader or party.

Naqvi added that those who criticised others should also be prepared to hear responses to their own statements. His remarks came amid a dispute over Fazlur Rehman’s comments concerning state institutions, with Naqvi arguing that political criticism should not cross the line into statements he considers damaging to the state.

The minister also alleged that some individuals used religion as a means of advancing their political and commercial interests. He claimed that people who now criticised the state had previously approached him and asked him to impose governor’s rule to resolve their political difficulties.

Naqvi did not identify those individuals in the remarks reported from the Senate session. Addressing questions about his visits to Iran, Naqvi said he was travelling to the neighbouring country on the prime minister’s instructions rather than out of personal preference.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assigned him a specific task, which was the reason he accompanied the premier on visits to Iran. Naqvi also rejected the suggestion that his visit was connected to a defence agreement.

He described Fazlur Rehman’s position that he had travelled to Iran for discussions relating to such an agreement as incorrect. The interior minister, however, did not provide further details of the specific task assigned to him by the prime minister during his remarks.

Naqvi reiterated that politicians who criticise the government, state institutions or other public figures should be prepared to face a response. He said political disagreement did not remove the responsibility of elected representatives and political leaders to exercise restraint when discussing state institutions.