Latest news with #DailyJang
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'God Has Made Me Protector, Don't Desire Any Position': Asim Munir Rejects Presidency Rumours
Last Updated: Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir was rumoured to replace Asif Ali Zardari as the country's President amid efforts to create a presidential form of government. Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir has dismissed speculation about changes in the country's presidency and premiership, after rumours suggested that he would be replacing Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's President. There was intense speculation that President Asif Ali Zardari may soon step down, potentially paving the way for the army chief to assume the country's presidency. This followed the newly appointed Field Marshal's two visits to the United States within a month, during which he held talks with top U.S. leadership, bypassing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. After stopping over in Belgium from his visit to US, Munir told the Daily Jang newspaper, where he said the rumours of any changes in Pakistan's presidency and the prime ministership were false. 'When informed that this 'news' had been circulated by both civil and military agencies, he [Field Marshal Munir] said this could not be possible," Dawn quoted the column. He also accused elements behind these rumours of creating 'political anarchy". Some reports had suggested that an effort was underway in Pakistan to replace the current parliamentary system with a presidential form of government. Some reports suggested that President Zardari had called for his son Bilawal Bhutto to be part of the new government as a condition for his exit. 'God Made Me A Protector' Asim Munir is a powerful figure in Pakistan, a country where military coups are not uncommon. He has held every key post: DG ISI, DG Military Intelligence, Corps Commander, and now the Army Chief. He was also promoted to Field Marshal recently, only the second time in Pakistan after Ayub Khan, who went on to become dictator-president. However, when asked about his political ambitions, Munir said,"God has made me the protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that." He also praised the prime minister and his 18-hour work streak and said 'political reconciliation" was only possible if there was a sincere apology, a reference to incarcerated former PM Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Munir also appeared confident in balancing ties between the United States and China, calling US President Donald Trump's peace efforts 'genuine", but underscoring that Pakistan will 'not sacrifice one friend for another". Earlier, during the height of Operation Sindoor, when India launched strikes at terror infrastructure in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Munir to stand down, not PM Sharif, showing Munir's power bypassing that of the country's own head of government. India views Munir as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were gunned down. Munir is a key proponent of the two-nation theory, often referring to Kashmir as Pakistan's 'jugular vein" and emphasising the divide between Hindus and Muslims. tags : Asim Munir Pakistan president view comments Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: August 17, 2025, 12:39 IST News world 'God Has Made Me Protector, Don't Desire Any Position': Asim Munir Rejects Presidency Rumours Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'God made me protector': Pak Army chief Asim Munir denies political ambitions, says report
As rumour and denials fly over his next move — possibly to become President — Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has reportedly said he has no political ambitions. He only wants to remain 'a servant of the state', according to report in a Pakistani media outlet. People holding pictures of Field Marshal Asim Munir during a rally in support of Pakistan Army in Karachi.(Reuters file) Suhail Warraich, senior editor for the Daily Jang newspaper, wrote in an article on Saturday that Munir told him as much in Brussels, Belgium, while on the way back home after a visit to the United States. There was no confirmation or denial yet from Munir's office, though he had indeed stopped over in Belgium, Dawn reported. Warraich said Munir spoke on stage, too, at Brussels in a small gathering: 'God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that.' Munir was further quoted as having said: 'I am a soldier and my greatest desire is martyrdom.' He also warned India against destabilising Pakistan's peace through the use of 'proxies', and cautioned Afghanistan against 'pushing the Taliban into Pakistan', the column said. He was further quoted as having said Pakistan would maintain equilibrium between the US and China. "We will not sacrifice one friend for the other," he reportedly told the Jang columnist. Will he, won't he? Rumours rife of Zardari being replaced Pakistan's army leaders are often the subject of palace whispers and media speculation, given the history of coups, martial law impositions, and takeovers. Munir's alleged desires to replace President Asif Ali Zardari have made headlines ever since he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal claiming successes against India, which had launched Operation Sindoor in May after a terror attack in Pahalgam. He is only the second officer to hold the rank in Pakistan's history — the first being Ayub Khan, who did take over Pakistan's governance. Field Marshal Munir's recent visits to the US, including a lunch meet with President Donald Trump, also fed rumours. "The talk started with politics and especially on the rumours that work is being done to change the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister. General Asim Munir clearly said in the Brussels meeting and in the two-hour-long meeting with me that the rumours about the change are completely false," the Saturday column by Warraich read, as per ANI. Has a 'roadmap' for Pakistan Warraich said Munir also told him that the rumours weren't started by either civil or military agencies 'He said, 'In fact, there are elements behind this who oppose both the government and the authorities and wish to create political anarchy'," Warraich wrote. The rumours were earlier denied at least twice by minister Mohsin Naqvi, as well as by a military spokesperson The columnist further said Munir spoke of an ambitious roadmap to transform Pakistan, especially with its untapped potential in the mineral sector. "Pakistan has a rare earth treasure; with this treasure, Pakistan's debt will also be reduced, and Pakistan will soon be counted among the most prosperous societies," Munir stated in the interview with the Daily Jang.
