ISLAMABAD
\nThe federal government on Thursday categorically rebuked speculations related to President Asif Ali Zardari\u2019s resignation and that the army chief \u201caspiring to assume the presidency\u201d. \u201cWe are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff,\u201d Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement on his X handle on Thursday.
\n\u201cI 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,\u201d he added. Naqvi said President Zardari enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces. He quoted the president as saying: \u201cI know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda\u201d.
\n\u201cTo those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. As for us, we will do whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah,\u201d the minister added, stressing that the sole focus of the COAS was on the strength and stability of Pakistan and nothing else.
\nThe security czar\u2019s clarification comes amid rumours which began circulating after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) obtained a simple majority in the National Assembly after the reinstatement of reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan following the top court\u2019s Constitutional Bench verdict. It also handed the ruling alliance a two-thirds majority in the lower house, as its strength rose from 218 to 235 members.
\nEarlier, Pakistan People\u2019s Party (PPP) Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari had also rebuked such speculations while noting that the federal government could not function without the party\u2019s support. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also echoed this stance with Senator Irfan Siddiqui firmly denying reports suggesting any proposal to replace the president.
\n\u201cNo such suggestion is under consideration at any level,\u201d Senator Siddiqui said while speaking on a private television channel. Stressing that President Zardari was playing his constitutional role effectively as the head of state, the senior politician criticised certain media narratives.
\nCommenting on the coalition setup, Siddiqui said the PPP remains an ally of the PML-N-led government. \u201cBeing in government together does not imply agreement on every issue,\u201d he noted. \u2014 DNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The federal government on Thursday categorically rebuked speculations related to President Asif Ali Zardari\u2019s resignation and that the army chief \u201caspiring to assume the presidency\u201d. \u201cWe are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff,\u201d Interior Minister Mohsin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-489457","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n