PM Shehbaz rejects Talk of Zardari’s Exit, Rules Out Political Role for Army Chief

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday firmly rejected circulating rumors that President Asif Ali Zardari is under pressure to resign or that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir is eyeing the presidency. The Prime Minister termed the speculation as “fabricated, baseless, and aimed at sowing confusion.”

In an exclusive conversation with The News, PM Shehbaz said no such discussions had taken place at any level of government. “These claims are entirely baseless,” he said. “There is no truth to any discussion about replacing the President. Our relationship — between myself, the President, and the Army Chief — is built on mutual trust, national interest, and the shared goal of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Pakistan.”

The remarks came amid a swirl of unverified reports and social media chatter suggesting deepening fault lines within Pakistan’s top power centers. Some posts alleged internal pressure on President Zardari to step down and hinted at Field Marshal Munir’s possible entry into civilian leadership.

Reacting strongly to these claims, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took to X (formerly Twitter), calling it a “coordinated campaign” to undermine the country’s leadership. “We know who is behind this organized campaign,” Naqvi said. “There has been no talk — formal or informal — about President Zardari stepping down or the COAS being considered for the role. These are deliberate attempts to mislead the public and erode institutional trust.”

Naqvi, widely regarded as having close ties to the military, emphasized that the civil and military leadership remained aligned and committed to constitutional order.

Political analysts say such rumors are not unusual in times of political recalibration or sensitive policy shifts, especially when major decisions are underway. However, the unified public stance from both government and military quarters signals a desire to project stability and institutional harmony.

The statements come as the ruling coalition faces both internal policy challenges and mounting external pressures, including economic reforms and evolving regional dynamics.