Mohsin Naqvi Denies Zardari Resignation, COAS Presidential Ambition

ISLAMABAD – July 11: Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi has strongly rejected widespread speculation suggesting President Asif Ali Zardari is being asked to step down or that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is seeking to become the next President of Pakistan.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Naqvi said the government is fully aware of the origins and motives behind the malicious campaign targeting top state figures.

“I have categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist, about the President being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency,” Naqvi clarified.

He emphasized that President Zardari enjoys a “strong and respectful relationship” with the Armed Forces’ leadership and condemned the false narratives as part of an orchestrated disinformation campaign.

“We know exactly who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who benefits from this propaganda,” he added.

Naqvi reaffirmed that the COAS remains fully focused on strengthening Pakistan’s stability and security, not political ambitions.

“Do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. We will do what is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah,” he concluded.

PPP Also Rejects Claims
A day earlier, senior PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman had also dismissed the rumours, calling them “baseless and misleading”.

She said the misinformation campaign was part of a broader effort to destabilize Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

“President Zardari has always been a symbol of democratic stability,” she stated, highlighting his past contributions, including transferring presidential powers to Parliament to strengthen democracy.

She warned the public against falling for “fake news and negative propaganda” being pushed to trigger political uncertainty in the country.

With both the federal government and the PPP united in their rejection of the claims, officials have urged the public and media to verify information before spreading potentially destabilizing narratives.