 "Quiet storm in Pakistan: Asim Munir’s unusual meetings with Zardari, Sharif stir coup speculation, again")
While earlier speculations on a military coup in Pakistan have not died down yet, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday shortly after Sharif held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at the latter’s residence.
The back-to-back meetings have, once again, stirred coup rumours in Pakistan’s political circles as Munir engages with the top leadership to replace the president. According to a report by The Express Tribune, word of the town is that Islamabad is likely to invoke the 27th Amendment, followed by a resignation of President Zardari.
‘Army has no interest in politics’
The theory that military may take over the reins of the Pakistani government has been dismissed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who has rejected media reports as lacking “credibility”.
Talking to the Express Tribune, Asif confirmed that while the possibility of President Zardari’s resignation and a subsequent military takeover came up during the discussions between Munir and Sharif, he dismissed rumours and found claims made by Pakistani media “unfounded.”
He said that Zardari was well aware of the meeting between Sharif and Munir. “Mr President was fully aware of the issue and expressed his full confidence in the government. It’s all kite flying,” Asif asserted.
“Army chief has no interest in politics. He [Munir] doesn’t need anything,” he added.
Sharif denies claims, too
Last week, PM Sharif said, “Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed any desire to become the president, nor is there any such plan in the offing.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also criticised what he called a “malicious campaign” targeting Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders.
In a post on X, Naqvi suggested that foreign groups were behind the dissemination of these rumours and said the government knows who is responsible for pushing this narrative.
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