International News: After the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, speculations about the removal of Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari have intensified. Amidst these speculations, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif made a big statement on Saturday. Shahbaz Sharif has completely rejected the speculations about President Asif Ali Zardari being forced to step down and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's plan to become president. The Prime Minister has termed these claims as "mere rumors and baseless speculations."
No plans, just rumors: Sharif on Munir
Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed a desire to become president, nor is any such plan under consideration," Sharif told Pakistan's leading English newspaper, The News. The Prime Minister made it clear that he, President Zardari, and Army Chief Munir share a strong relationship based on mutual respect and a shared objective—the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. He said such rumors were merely an attempt to spread instability.
Naqvi's statement on removing Zardari
The statement came a day after Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the “malicious campaign” being run on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) targeting Zardari, Sharif, and Munir. Naqvi clearly said that everyone knows who is behind this campaign; neither the president has been asked to resign nor has the army chief expressed any desire to become president.
The Home Minister also questioned the role of foreign hostile agencies in this alleged operation and said, "Those who are part of this conspiracy, whatever they do with whomever they join, our commitment is to make Pakistan strong and stable again. Insha Allah, we will take all necessary steps."
Munir's tenure increased from three to five years.
Field Marshal Asim Munir was appointed Army Chief for three years in 2022, but his tenure has been extended to five years by the government. According to sources, he may be given further extension in the future. Zardari had supported Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during last year's elections. In return for this support, Zardari was made the president of the country for five years. Apart from this, the ruling party also has good relations with Bilawal Bhutto, son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Recently, Bilawal Bhutto was entrusted with the responsibility of leading an international delegation, which is visiting the capitals of various countries to share the changing circumstances of India-Pakistan relations at the global level. According to observers, this shows that the Bhutto family still has considerable influence in the corridors of power.
