Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, responded to various pressing issues during a press briefing on Friday, including the upcoming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest scheduled for August 5, the presence of Afghan nationals in Pakistan, and plans for tackling illegal housing societies in Islamabad.
Regarding the PTI’s planned protest, he remarked, “Let PTI complete their preparations first, and then we will take our own measures.” This statement comes in response to questions about the government’s strategy to handle the PTI’s call for a protest.
On the topic of Afghanistan, the interior minister emphasised Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic dialogue with the Islamic Emirate, acknowledging the importance of bilateral relations. He also clarified Pakistan’s stance on illegal foreign nationals residing within its borders, stating that no leniency would be shown towards anyone staying illegally, particularly Afghan nationals.
“Afghan nationals illegally residing in Pakistan will not be given extensions,” Naqvi affirmed, while noting that Iran had recently expelled 300,000 Afghan nationals in the past two weeks. The minister further addressed concerns regarding the growing number of illegal housing societies in Islamabad. He announced that a large-scale operation against these unauthorised developments is underway, with 133 illegal housing societies currently under scrutiny.
Touching on other national issues, Naqvi shared that the Ministry of Interior is considering the appointment of a new officer to oversee the matters concerning armed institutions, but the final decision is yet to be made.
On the topic of environmental concerns, he warned about the potential threat of smog in Islamabad. He noted that the risk of smog returning to the capital in the coming years remains significant, and efforts are being made to increase green areas in the city to combat this issue.
Regarding infrastructure, the minister pointed out that a road in the E-11 sector of Islamabad had been damaged due to excavation by the Sui Gas department, adding that the issue would be addressed soon.
He also briefly mentioned his remarks about the situation in Balochistan, clarifying that he was using the term “control” in a metaphorical sense when discussing law enforcement’s role in combating terrorism in the province.
Lastly, Naqvi highlighted the role of Pakistan’s leadership in preventing further escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. “The prime minister and the army chief have played a key role in preventing the Iran-Israel war,” he said.