Does Asim Munir want to become president of Pakistan? Govt warns against 'malicious campaign'

Pakistan leadership categorically refuted speculative reports which claimed that the country's President Asif Ali Zardari may resign and that Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has been "aspiring to assume the presidency".

 

Pakistan has a long history of military coups that have shaped the country's political landscape over the years. Since its independence in 1947, the country has experienced several direct military takeovers, and these seem to be give some credence to the claims that Asim Munir may have political ambitions. His promotion to Field Marshal—only the second such elevation in the country's history—has fueled widespread speculations of a political takeover by the army. 

 

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a social media post, claimed that Islamabad is "fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff."

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He claimed that reports of Asim Munir harbouring ambitions to become the president of Pakistan are harmful to the national stability. Naqvi said the chief of the Pakistan army has no political objectives and his only aim is to strengthen the country.

 

He wrote that he "categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist, about the President being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency."

 

Geo.tv reported that Naqvi said the Pakistan president has a strong and respectful relationship with the leader of the armed forces and claimed that he is aware who is spreading these "falsehoods" and who stands to benefit from these.

 

To those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies, he further said.

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