Pak PM Denies Army Chief Aiming for Presidency
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has dismissed recent rumours suggesting that Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, intends to become President, calling such speculation “merely rumours”. He firmly stated there is no plan for President Asif Ali Zardari to step down.
PM Rejects Speculation
Sharif clarified that neither Munir nor any top official has shown interest in replacing President Zardari. He emphasised that he, Zardari, and Munir share mutual respect and a common goal of national progress, dismissing the rumours as politically driven misinformation.
Interior Minister Points to Foreign Interference
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed the PM’s statement, condemning the rumours as part of a “malicious campaign” orchestrated by hostile foreign elements. He warned that those blaming Munir or Zardari risked compromising Pakistan’s national unity.
Term Extensions Clarified
Munir was appointed army chief in November 2022 for a three-year term, which was extended by law to five years in November 2024—securing his post until 2027. Meanwhile, Zardari began a five-year term as President last year, following a political agreement supporting Sharif’s prime ministership.
Stable Relationships at the Top
Since Zardari’s election, both he and his son, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, have maintained stable ties with the military leadership. Bilawal recently led diplomatic efforts abroad to address tensions with India—a move widely seen as reinforcing government unity.
