'God has made me protector of Pakistan': Asim Munir rules out change in leadership, denies presidential ambitions

File Photo - Demonstrators carrying posters with portraits of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir shout slogans as they participate in an anti-India protest in Lahore on May 11, 2025.

According to a report in the Jang media group on Saturday, Munir said such claims were against both the government and the establishment. His remarks come amid persistent chatter on social media since July that Zardari may be asked to step down, with speculation that the army chief himself could assume the presidency.

Senior government leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, had earlier denied such reports.

Columnist Suhail Warraich, writing in Jang, said Munir personally addressed the matter during a recent meeting in Brussels, where the army chief stopped briefly on his way back from a visit to the United States.

“The talk started with politics, especially on rumours that there is some effort to change the president of Pakistan as well as the prime minister. Field Marshal Munir clearly said, during both the Brussels gathering and in his two-hour discussion with me, that the rumours about a change were completely false,” Warraich wrote.

“There are elements behind this (rumour) who oppose both the government and the authorities and wish to create political anarchy,” the army chief was quoted as saying.

The column further noted that Munir outlined his ambitions during the Brussels gathering, stating: “God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that.”

On political reconciliation, Munir reportedly said it was possible “only if there is a sincere apology.” Although he did not specify, the remarks appeared to allude to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its jailed leader, Imran Khan.

Discussing foreign policy, Munir stressed the importance of maintaining balance between the United States and China. “We will not sacrifice one friend for the other,” he said.

The army chief also lauded US President Donald Trump’s role in promoting peace. “Trump’s efforts for peace are genuine,” he said, adding that Pakistan had taken the lead in nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, a move he claimed was later followed by other nations.

Munir’s denial of presidential ambitions comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s history, where several army chiefs, including General Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq, and General Pervez Musharraf, seized power and went on to assume the presidency, blurring the line between military command and civilian leadership. This precedent has fuelled speculation that any future instability could once again open the door for a military takeover at the highest office.