President Zardari’s Resignation
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday firmly dismissed circulating rumours that President Asif Ali Zardari had been asked to resign, calling the claims part of a “malicious campaign” aimed at destabilising key institutions of the state.
Taking to social media platform X, Naqvi stated, “We are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff.” He categorically denied that any discussions had taken place regarding the resignation of the president or that the army chief had any aspirations to assume the presidency.
Emphasising the strength of civil-military relations, the interior minister noted that President Zardari shares a “strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces.” He further quoted President Zardari as having said, “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda.”
Naqvi stressed that Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir remains singularly focused on ensuring Pakistan’s strength, stability, and security. He issued a pointed warning to those allegedly collaborating with “hostile foreign agencies” to spread such narratives, asserting that the government would continue to take necessary steps to protect national integrity and resilience.
Adding to the rebuttal, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui also rejected the rumours earlier in the day during an appearance on Geo News’ programme “Geo Pakistan.” Dismissing the claims as fabricated, Siddiqui remarked, “Reports that Zardari is resigning, Imran’s sons are coming, Nawaz Sharif is going to Adiala … these are not news. They are bogus, table stories.”
Siddiqui further explained that President Zardari has caused no difficulties for the coalition government and has shown a deep understanding of his constitutional responsibilities.
The senator made it clear that the PML-N has no issues working with the PPP and its leadership, questioning, “Why would we bring down this system?” when the alliance has been functioning smoothly.
The controversy comes at a time when social media has become a potent arena for disinformation campaigns, with repeated warnings from both the government and military officials about the dangers of “fake news and propaganda.”
Military spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has previously criticised the lack of effective enforcement against what he termed “digital terrorism” and the spread of misleading narratives under existing laws.
In May, President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly conferred the rank of Field Marshal on COAS General Syed Asim Munir in recognition of his “sagacious leadership and exceptional strategy” during the recent military conflict with India. This high-level acknowledgment of the army chief’s role further underlined the unity among Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership.
At a subsequent dinner hosted by Field Marshal Munir, he praised the political leadership for its “strategic foresight” during the conflict, dubbed Marka-i-Haq. In June, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly endorsed the current hybrid governance model, calling it a “practical necessity” and claiming that it was “doing wonders” for Pakistan’s stability.
Earlier in May 2024, President Zardari and Field Marshal Munir had jointly condemned what they described as baseless accusations made by a specific political party and a few of its members, aimed at undermining the military’s credibility for political gain.
The recurring nature of such allegations appears to be part of a broader pattern of attempts to sow discord among Pakistan’s state institutions.
The government’s firm response signals its resolve to protect institutional integrity and maintain public confidence amid increasing digital misinformation campaigns.
