“No Plans for Presidency”: PM Shehbaz Dismisses Rumors of Asim Munir Eyeing Top Post
Islamabad, 13 July 2025 — Amid swirling rumors that Pakistan’s powerful Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, could be poised to take over as the country’s next president, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has firmly shot down the speculation.
In an exclusive interview with The News on Friday, PM Shehbaz termed the chatter “baseless” and emphasized that neither President Asif Ali Zardari is stepping down, nor is there any intention or move for Munir to assume the presidency.
“Field Marshal Asim Munir has never expressed any desire to become the president, nor is there any such plan in the offing,” Sharif stated, in an apparent effort to quash growing political whispers and media speculation.
The clarification comes as Asim Munir gains increasing visibility and influence on Pakistan’s foreign policy front. Following a high-level visit to Sri Lanka scheduled for July 21, Munir is also expected to travel to Indonesia, with the goal of reviving diplomatic ties with the world’s most populous Muslim-majority democracy.
His outreach efforts come at a time when observers suggest Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s influence is waning in key decision-making circles, further fueling rumors of a shifting power dynamic.
Despite the denials, the speculation underscores a deeper undercurrent in Pakistan’s civil-military relations—one where the lines of authority remain in constant negotiation. For now, however, the government insists that the presidency is not on Munir’s radar.
