Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has firmly dismissed ongoing rumors about Field Marshal Asim Munir assuming the role of President of Pakistan. Speaking exclusively to The Economist, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry labeled the claims as “entirely baseless” and emphasized their lack of credibility.
The speculation arose following discussions around the “Battle of Truth,” sparking theories about Field Marshal Munir’s potential presidential role. Addressing these rumors, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry was unequivocal, stating, “These claims are completely baseless,” while also rejecting the political analyses that followed.
During the interview, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry also issued a pointed warning to India when asked about potential military actions. He made it clear that Pakistan’s response to any aggression would be swift and decisive, stating, “This time, we will begin from the East of India,” and adding, “The response will start with a deep strike inside India.” He stressed that Pakistan is fully prepared to retaliate, sending a strong message that India would not be immune to targeted actions.
Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also refuted similar rumors about Field Marshal Munir’s intentions to pursue the presidency. The minister called the speculation “completely baseless” and harmful to Pakistan’s national stability. He went further to criticize what he called a “negative campaign” aimed at creating division among President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the armed forces leadership. Naqvi claimed that such rumors were part of a deliberate effort by hostile entities and foreign agencies to destabilize Pakistan politically and disrupt institutional harmony.
Both statements from DG ISPR and the Interior Minister underscore a united stance in defending the integrity of Pakistan’s institutions against these unfounded assertions.
