Lahore, December 01, 2025: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday firmly dismissed widespread speculation surrounding the delay in issuing the notification for the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a top military post created under the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Naqvi said the establishment of a new institutional framework could not be completed by “pressing a button”.
“Let these people speculate for a few more days. Changes have been made to the Constitution and a new institution is being established,” he said. “Rumour-mongers think such things can happen instantly. When a new system is created, it naturally takes time.”
He also took aim at those “minting money” by fuelling speculation regarding the CDF appointment, saying they were free to continue until the official announcement is made.
His remarks follow a similar clarification by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who on Sunday also refuted speculation regarding the notification.
“There is unnecessary and irresponsible speculation about the CDF notification. Please be informed that the process has been initiated. The prime minister is returning shortly,” Asif wrote on X, adding that the notification would be issued “in due course” and that there was “no room for conjecture”.
Govt plans crackdown on fake news
Naqvi also announced that the federal government, in coordination with the Information Ministry and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), will soon launch a sweeping crackdown against the spread of fake news on social media.
Claiming that “90% of recent news circulating on social media is fake”, the minister said tighter measures were urgently needed to curb misinformation.
“It cannot be allowed that anyone posts anything they want,” he said, adding that while freedom of expression was upheld, it did not grant the right to defame or mislead.
He noted that mainstream media already operates under established mechanisms such as PEMRA, where complaints can be filed for false reporting, but social media remains largely unregulated.
“No one will be allowed to humiliate others on social media. There will be no compromise on national security,” he added.
He further cautioned individuals “sitting abroad and making baseless allegations” about state institutions, warning: “You will be brought back and made to answer.”
Illegal Afghan nationals must return
During the press briefing, Naqvi took a hard line on the presence of undocumented Afghan nationals in Pakistan, declaring that they were “no longer guests” and must return to their homeland.
“Afghans were once our guests, but they are not our guests anymore,” he said. “They will be sent back under all circumstances.”
The minister claimed that recent attacks—including the assault on Frontier Corps Headquarters and the Islamabad district court incident—were carried out by Afghan nationals.
“Afghans are involved in all the attacks happening in the country,” he alleged.
Naqvi said the nationwide campaign to deport illegal Afghan migrants was progressing successfully.
“We must ensure the deportation of all illegal Afghan refugees. We cannot afford more explosions,” he said.
He urged undocumented Afghans to return voluntarily and warned that those who re-enter Pakistan illegally would be arrested and prosecuted. He also confirmed the dismantling of Afghan camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Naqvi reiterated that the government clearly understood “who is behind terrorism and who is orchestrating it”, calling on the Afghan Taliban administration to rein in militant elements.
