Army Dismisses ‘President Munir’ Rumours as Baseless, Warns of Digital Propaganda

Military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has firmly denied speculation that Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir may become Pakistan’s next president, calling the idea “nonsense” in an interview with The Economist. The rumours, fuelled by Munir’s rising popularity and the government’s two-thirds majority in parliament, have also been dismissed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and President Asif Ali Zardari. The military has repeatedly warned against the spread of “fake news” on social media, with Gen Chaudhry criticising the lack of action against what he called “digital terrorism.” Munir was recently conferred the ceremonial rank of field marshal following his leadership in the May conflict with India.