Mohsin Naqvi

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mohsin Naqvi

• Mohsin Naqvi was born and grew up in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

• When Naqvi was very young, he was orphaned and was raised by his maternal uncle.

• Mohin first completed his college-level education in Pakistan, and for higher studies, he moved to America.

• In 2000, after his studies, Naqvi began his professional career at CNN, an American cable news channel, as an intern.

• After the internship, he got a full-time job at CNN as a producer and was assigned to cover news of Pakistan.

• In 2001, after the 9/11 attacks, Naqvi was promoted to regional head for South Asia.

• In 2009, while working at CNN, he faced an allegation of bribery of Rs 9 billion in connection with the owner of Haris Steel Mills. It was reported that Naqvi had accepted a payment of Rs 3.5 million from the owner of Haris Steel. Despite the allegation, Naqvi continued working at CNN.

• In late 2009, Mohsin returned to Pakistan and used his journalistic background to build a media group. In 2009, he founded City Media Group. His first channel name was City 42 (also referred to as C42), which was a Lahore-focused news channel. Over time, his media group expanded to include multiple TV channels and a newspaper. Some of the other channels under his media group include 24 News, Channel 21, Rohi TV, City 41, and C44 (UK/EU).

• After gaining success in his media career, he entered politics in 2023.

• On 22 January 2023, he was nominated for the position of Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab by Hamza Shahbaz, the Leader of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Naqvi assumed office the same day. On 27 January 2023, he inaugurated an eight-member caretaker provincial cabinet.

• As a caretaker CM, his work was to manage the province’s affairs fairly during the election period. He served in that role until 26 February 2024.

• On 22 January 2024, Mohsin was appointed as the 37th chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Regarding less experience in cricket, his appointment met with criticism for some time.

• In March 2024, Mohsin Naqvi was considered for the position of Interior Minister in Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet. The nomination was initially met with denial from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP); however, they later supported him.

• On 11 March 2024, Naqvi was sworn in as the Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control.

• In March 2024, a petition was filed against Mohsin Naqvi by Hamid Khan in the Supreme Court on behalf of Imran Khan for alleged constitutional violations.

• To hold a full federal ministerial portfolio, he announced his candidacy for the 2024 Senate election as an independent candidate. His nomination received support from the ruling parties of Pakistan, including the PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party. He was sworn in as a member of the Senate on 8 April 2024.

• On 26 April 2024, during the National Assembly session, Omar Ayub Khan and other PTI leaders criticized Naqvi’s appointment as an independent senator and as caretaker chief minister.

• In May 2024, PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khan stated that the party’s support for Mohsin Naqvi as an independent candidate was a continuation of a “hybrid system” and that the decision was made by Nawaz Sharif against the wishes of most of the party leaders.

• In April 2025, he was appointed as president of the Asian Cricket Council.

• Recently, during the 2025 Asia Cup final in September 2025, the Indian team, after their win over the Pakistan team, refused to take the winning medals and trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. The presentation was delayed for over an hour before being cancelled. Later, Naqvi took the trophy and medals with him from the venue. Mohsin has faced criticism for this act from various cricket associations.

  

• BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia described the situation as very unfortunate and confirmed that Indian would register a formal protest against him. He said,

“We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main political leaders of Pakistan, that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy along with the medals.”