As speculation mounts over whether Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir could replace President Asif Ali Zardari, the general himself has reportedly dismissed the rumours. Writing in Daily Jang, senior editor Suhail Warraich said Munir spoke to him in Brussels, where he stopped over after a US visit. “God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that,” Munir was quoted as saying.
The Field Marshal, only the second in Pakistan’s history after Ayub Khan, described himself as a soldier whose greatest wish was martyrdom. He also warned both India and Afghanistan against actions that could destabilise Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad’s policy of balancing ties with the US and China.
Warraich wrote that Munir rejected claims of plotting leadership changes, calling them “false” and the work of groups seeking to stir anarchy. Ministers and military officials have earlier issued similar denials. Still, his rising stature, high-profile foreign visits, and promotion have ensured the speculation does not die down.
Munir, according to the columnist, also outlined a vision for Pakistan’s economic revival. He cited the nation’s untapped reserves of rare earth minerals as a key to paying off debt and transforming Pakistan into a prosperous society.