Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said the country’s governance system had “collapsed” and warned that frustration among young people should not be underestimated, drawing a pointed comparison with the viral “cockroach” imagery that has emerged around youth-led protests in India.

Speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad, Naqvi said the country needed political consensus, constitutional reform and decentralisation through new administrative units or provinces.

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A kingdom in need of new foundations

Naqvi told the gathering that Pakistan had spent decades trying to fix recurring political and economic crises without changing the structure behind them.

“We are unable to give our youth what they want,” Naqvi said.

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(Representational image) India’s ‘cockroach’ movement is now shaping conversations on youth unrest and governance across the border | AI

“Whether you agree or not, the system we have been living under has collapsed,” he said, adding that repeated attempts to solve the country’s problems within the existing framework had failed.

“Giving stipends and tablets to youngsters will not make them happy,” arguing that Pakistan’s centralised administrative structure was struggling.

He argued that younger Pakistanis are not looking for handouts but for fair access to work. “Their only demand is merit-based jobs and employment opportunities.”

Of cockroaches and political caution

He then turned to the phrase that has travelled across the border from India’s youth protests.

Referring to the term “cockroaches”, which has recently been adopted by Gen Z protesters in India, Naqvi warned, “If these ‘cockroaches’ get united, they can turn everything upside down.”

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(Representational image) Pakistan’s governance debate took an unexpected turn | AI

He said policymakers should take youth grievances seriously before dissatisfaction hardens into something larger and urged business leaders to play a more active role in public life rather than funding politicians from the sidelines.

From satire to a wider political ripple

The remarks come against the backdrop of India’s own satirical protest wave, where the Cockroach Janta Party has used memes, parody and street demonstrations to channel anger over exam scandals, unemployment and lack of accountability.

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(Representational image) Minister says ‘the system we have been living under has collapsed’ | AI

Reuters reported that the movement drew momentum after leaked national exam papers forced a resit affecting 2 million students. The protesters have used humour to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image and expand a single-issue campaign into a broader youth movement.

The group also inspired offshoots and copycat pages in Pakistan. This underlines how quickly the symbolism has spread across South Asia’s online political culture.

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FAQs

Q1: What is the Cockroach Janta Party?

The Cockroach Janta Party is a youth-led satirical protest movement in India that uses memes, humour and symbolic demonstrations to highlight issues such as unemployment, exam controversies and governance.

Q2: Why did Pakistan’s interior minister mention the Cockroach Janta Party?

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi cited the movement to warn that if frustrated young people unite, they could become a powerful force demanding political and economic change.