Govt rebuffs rumours of Zardari’s resignation, COAS eyeing presidency

Army chief’s sole focus is on Pakistan’s strength, stability: Naqvi

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday categorically rebuked speculations related to President Asif Ali Zardari’s resignation and the claims that Field Marshal Asim Munir was “aspiring to assume the presidency”.

“We are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement on his X handle on Thursday.

“I have 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,” he added.

Naqvi said President Zardari enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces. He quoted the president as saying: “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda”.

“To those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. As for us, we will do whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah,” the minister added, stressing that the sole focus of the COAS was on the strength and stability of Pakistan and nothing else.

The security czar’s clarification comes amid rumours which began circulating after the ruling PML-N obtained a simple majority in the National Assembly after the reinstatement of reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan following the top court’s Constitutional Bench verdict.

It also handed the ruling alliance a two-thirds majority in the lower house, as its strength rose from 218 to 235 members.