Mohsin Naqvi

Naqvi was born on 28 October 1978, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan to a Punjabi Syed family with their ancestral roots lying in Jhang.^[3] He was orphaned at a young age and was raised by his maternal uncle, who currently serves as the chairman of City Media Group.^[4]

Naqvi received his primary education from the Crescent Model Higher Secondary School.^[5] He later attended Government College University (GCU) before moving to the United States to pursue higher education at Ohio University, where he earned a degree in journalism.^[3][6]

After completing his studies, Naqvi obtained an internship with the American cable news channel, CNN.^[3] He was sent by CNN to cover Pakistan as a producer and later became the regional head of South Asia during the global War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks.^[3][7][6] Naqvi reported on the region for CNN until 2009.^[3]

In 2009, at the age of 31, Naqvi founded City News Network, with C42 as its first television channel that was later re-branded as City 42.^[3][7] City News Network owns six TV channels, one newspaper; including 24 News Channel, Rohi Channel for Saraiki Belt and C41. He has also started Channel 21 from Karachi. His Urdu news channel C44 is also working in the UK.^[7]

In 2009, Naqvi, then associated with CNN, faced allegations of involvement in accepting substantial bribes to facilitate the acquittal of the Haris Steel Mills owner in a Rs 9 billion fraud case before the Supreme Court.^[8] According to reports, Naqvi received Rs3.5 million from Sheikh Afzal, the owner of Haris Steel, after Naqvi allegedly proposed to Afzal to have his corruption case dismissed, leveraging his purported favorable connections with a Lahore High Court judge.^[9]

Naqvi was one of the two nominees suggested by Hamza Shehbaz, Leader of the Opposition Punjab Assembly for the caretaker chief ministership of the province.^[10] The appointment of Naqvi as caretaker CM was later made by Election Commission of Pakistan during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner, Sikander Sultan Raja after an unusual delay and constant deadlock between the previous provincial government and the opposition over the nominees after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.^[11]

Naqvi assumed office as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab on 22 January 2023.^[11] Subsequently, on 27 January, an eight-member caretaker provincial cabinet for Punjab was inaugurated.^[12]

The selection of Naqvi as the caretaker Chief Minister faced substantial backlash from various quarters, notably the PTI. Criticism intensified following revelations of Naqvi's involvement in the controversial Haris Steel Case, where he reportedly entered into a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). PTI had vehemently denounced the appointment, labeling it as unlawful and invalid.^[13] On 28 January 2023, following Naqvi's assumption of office as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab, the PTI lodged a petition against his appointment in the Supreme Court. The PTI petitioned the court to prohibit Naqvi from forming a cabinet, executing administrative duties, and making decisions regarding election. The petition further argued that the Election Commission and its members had breached constitutional and statutory obligations pertaining to the appointment of Naqvi as caretaker chief minister.^[14] The outgoing Chief Minister of Punjab Pervaiz Elahi, criticized Naqvi's appointment as "partial and biased," while Imran Khan deemed Naqvi a "controversial and biased personality" and therefore unacceptable to his party. Khan further alleged that the ECP had appointed Naqvi to manipulate the forthcoming elections in Punjab.^[15]

During an interview on 29 January, Punjab Advocate General Ahmad Awais disclosed that shortly after Naqvi assumed the role of caretaker chief minister, he orchestrated significant illegal transfers, postings, and dismissals of officers across various law enforcement agencies. These actions, purportedly aimed at officers appointed by the PTI government, were alleged to assist the ECP in rigging the election in favor of the PML-N and PDM.^[16]

On 12 February, Naqvi purportedly breached the election code of conduct by participating in the groundbreaking event of Bab-e-Pakistan, contravening the ECP regulations that prohibited caretaker governments from engaging in such activities. Additionally, the Punjab Advocate General Ahmad Awais remarked that the ceremony constituted a violation of the election act and was deemed unconstitutional. He further stated that the issue would likely be brought before the court, emphasizing that caretaker administrations should refrain from involvement in such events.^[17]

On 14 February 2023, Naqvi stated that he has no intention of extending his tenure as caretaker chief minister,^[18] noting that the term of a caretaker government typically ranges from 60 to 90 days.^[19]

According to a petition filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on 29 April, it was argued that the term of Naqvi as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab had expired as per the constitution after 90 days and that Naqvi was unlawfully occupying the office.^[20]

Following the 2024 Pakistani general election on 8 February, Pervaiz Elahi leveled accusations against Naqvi, alleging that he deprived the people of their electoral mandate and stated that "Naqvi and his police are the real culprits behind stealing the mandate of the citizens".^[21]

Naqvi convened farewell meeting of the provincial cabinet of Punjab on 23 February 2024.^[22]

On 10 March 2024, after reports surfaced that Naqvi would join Prime Minister Shehbaz's federal cabinet as the Interior Minister, both the PML-N and the PPP denied that he was their candidate: a senior PML-N leader expressed disappointment with Naqvi's appointment, asserting that he did not represent their party and argued that he's the PPP choice, while a PPP leader called Naqvi “Rawalpindi’s man”, a reference to the Pakistani military establishment.^[23] A senior PML-N leader, speaking anonymously, expressed concerns that it could have a potentially negative impact on the government's image if it were to materialize.^[24]

Naqvi was subsequently sworn in on 11 March 2024 and appointed as Federal Minister for Interior and narcotics control.^[25]

In March, he announced his candidacy for the 2024 Pakistani Senate election^[26] with the aim of securing a position as a full federal minister. Naqvi filed his nomination as an independent candidate, yet reports indicated that all four parties in the ruling coalition—PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party—backed Naqvi as their candidate for the Senate elections.^[27]

On 6 April, while in jail, Imran Khan, speaking to journalists, remarked that "The king is sitting back," alluding to the Chief of Army Asim Munir, and stated that Naqvi had assumed the role of "viceroy". He also asserted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held no real power. Additionally, Imran Khan implicated Naqvi, along with certain judges, the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and the caretaker government of Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, in the alleged judicial involvement in the "London plan".^[28]

On 8 April, during a joint press conference, Qaisera Elahi, the wife of Pervaiz Elahi, and Sumaira Elahi, the sister of Shujaat Hussain, accused Naqvi of exacerbating the discord between her husband Pervez and Shujaat Hussain.^[29][30] Reportedly, Naqvi is a close relative of Shujaat Hussain.^[31] Fractures within the family began to emerge during the No-confidence motion against Imran Khan in April 2022.^[32]

On April 8, he was sworn in as a member of the Senate.^[33] However in June, a petition was submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking to disqualify Naqvi from his Senate membership. The petition, citing Article 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan, argued that Naqvi was ineligible to run for the Senate while serving as the Chairman of PCB, as holding both positions simultaneously violates constitutional provisions.^[34][35][36]

In March, Hamid Khan, representing Imran Khan, petitioned the Supreme Court to form a judicial commission of serving SC judges to investigate rigging in 2024 election. The petition also demanded scrutiny of Naqvi's actions, alleging violations of oaths and subversion of the Constitution, calling for a trial for high treason.^[37]

During Naqvi's appearance in the National Assembly on 26 April, PTI leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan and the PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, lambasted and accused Naqvi of perpetuating political victimization. They also questioned Naqvi's election as a senator as an independent candidate, citing his previous role as an "illegal caretaker chief minister of Punjab." Furthermore, Naqvi faced criticism for his non-attendance at National Assembly sessions.^[38]

On 3 May, PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khan criticized the election of independent candidates as senators in 2024 Pakistani Senate election, including Naqvi, and called it as a "continuation of the hybrid system." He also claimed that the majority of PML-N was opposed to supporting independent candidates, including Naqvi, in the Senate elections, but Nawaz Sharif made the decision.^[39]

On 22 January 2024, caretaker Prime Minister and PCB Patron-in-Chief Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar designated Naqvi as a member of the governing board of PCB, amid reports that the latter would eventually be elected as PCB chairman.^[40][41] According to reports, Naqvi reportedly had support from Anwaar ul Haq Kaka, to assume the chairmanship of the PCB. On 6 February, while serving as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, he was also elected unopposed as full time 37th chairman of the PCB^[42] for a three-year term. His appointment occurred roughly ten days before the start of the 2024 Pakistan Super League and just a few days before the 2024 Pakistani general election. However his critics dismissed him as someone with little to no cricket experience.^[43]

In March, Under Naqvi's chairmanship of the PCB, the National Cricket Selection Committee underwent reorganization. Previously chaired by a single individual, the committee was restructured to include seven members, each with equal voting authority.^[44]

It was observed that Pakistan cricket experienced a decline in performance during Naqvi's tenure as chairman, as compared to his predecessors, largely attributed to his limited cricketing experience and its management. One particularly criticized decision during the Naqvi's tenure had been the reinstatement of Babar Azam as Pakistan's captain in white-ball cricket, which had been viewed as one of the pivotal setbacks for the Pakistan cricket team.^[45]

In June 2024, following Pakistan's losses to the USA and India during the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Naqvi called for a major changes within the cricket team, referring to it as a "major surgery."^[46] The Dawn's editorial noted that the seven-member committee formed by Naqvi "proved to be mentally fragile".^[47] While an editorial in Pakistan Today also expressed disappointment with what it saw as an "unserious attitude towards cricket" from the PCB's political patrons, suggesting it may have contributed to the team's recent underperformance.^[48] Muhammad Ali Saif, then advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, called for the immediate resignation of Naqvi as chairman of PCB, insisting that the PCB chairman should be a "professional and responsible individual" and also emphasized the need to keep sports separate from politics.^[49]

Naqvi married the daughter of Ashraf Marth, the brother-in-law of Pervaiz Elahi, himself a former Chief Minister of Punjab.^[50] Ashraf Marth was the SSP Gujranwala before being assassinated by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militants in 1997.^[51] However, despite their relationship, Elahi rejected his appointment as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, stating that he would approach the Supreme Court regarding the Election Commission's decision to appoint him to this position.^[4] Naqvi is also reported to have close ties with Asif Ali Zardari.^[4]

In May 2024, his wife name surfaced in a data leak disclosing her ownership of properties in Dubai.^[52]