Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif rejects claims of Army Chief replacing President Zardari: 'Munir never showed interest in presidency'
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif rejects claims of Army Chief replacing President Zardari: 'Munir never showed interest in presidency'")
This handout photograph taken and released on May 22, 2025 by the Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) shows Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) and President Asif Ali Zardari (C) jointly conferring the Baton of Field Marshal on Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir during a ceremony at the country's President House. Photograph: (AFP)
Speaking to the media, Sharif said that the reports were nothing but baseless propaganda and said that Munir has "never shown interest in the presidency". He insisted that the president and the army chief work in tandem with mutual trust, and that no shuffle in their roles was imminent.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday (Jul 11) firmly rejected reports suggesting that the nation's President Asif Ali Zardari may step down and that Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir wanted to become president in his stead. Speaking to the media, Sharif said that the reports were nothing but baseless propaganda and said that Munir has "never shown interest in the presidency". He insisted that the president and the army chief work in tandem with mutual trust, and that no shuffle in their roles was imminent.
What did Sharif say about Asif Munir's alleged presidential bid?
Calling the reports a baseless, malicious propaganda campaign, the Pakistani Sharif dismissed rumours of discord and said that "Field Marshal Asim Munir has never shown interest in the presidency." He also insisted that there was no "plan under discussion" regarding Asif Ali Zardari stepping down or Munir taking over. He stressed that he, Zardari and Munir work with mutual trust and that the relationship they share was based on mutual trust and respect and a shared vision for a better and stronger Pakistan.
His statement follows a similar statement by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Pakistani interior minister alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to target President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz, and Army Chief Munir. He claimed that they "know exactly who is spreading this false narrative" and insisted that "There has been no conversation, no plan, and no such idea that President Zardari will resign or that the COAS wants to become President".
Accusing foreign hostile elements of promoting the so-called smear campaign, he said, "Those behind this disinformation may continue working with foreign agencies, but we will do whatever is needed to make Pakistan stronger — InshAllah." Naqvi added that President Zardari "enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces." On the 47th anniversary of General Zia-ul-Haq's infamous 1977 military coup, there have been rumours floating on social media, hinting that Munir might replace Zardari as Pakistan's president.
