General retired, imposter: Pakistanis mock Asim Munir's appointment delay

'General Retired Asim Munir'. 'Imposter posing as army chief'. 'I deem him retired'. It's been five days, and there is still no notification elevating Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to the newly created post of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). The vacuum has now been filled by sarcasm as Pakistanis have turned the crisis into a meme fest on social media in what is being viewed as another civilian-military leadership tussle.

The Shehbaz Sharif government was supposed to notify the appointment of Pakistan's first Chief of Defence Forces, a post that will be held alongside that of the army chief, on November 29. On that day, Munir's original three-year term as army chief ended.

The new CDF post would have made Munir the most powerful man in Pakistan, as he would enjoy legal protections on par with the President, including immunity from prosecution. But, exactly when the notification was to be signed, Prime Minister Sharif left for the UAE and then to London, apparently to meet his brother Nawaz.

What further piqued curiosity is Sharif's decision to land in Lahore on Monday night instead of the capital, Islamabad. The government has, however, dismissed rumours of any rift with the military. But, the question remains - where is the notification?

PAKISTANIS HAVE A FIELD DAY ONLINE

The delay has now become the stuff of memes and ridicule on social media, with Pakistani journalists and citizens having a field (marshal) day mocking the situation.

"It is hereby notified that no notification will be notified until the notification is notified," quipped Pakistani journalist Cyril Almeida on X.

Some even sarcastically called out the Sharifs for the "disrespect" being meted out to their "Syed".

Another journalist, Waqas Ahmed, tweeted, "Instead of washing his feet, Nawaz Sharif abused and humiliated him (Munir)... If it weren't for him, we would be living under the divine blessings of the holy CDF since November 28. Alas, every day the notification is delayed, and we live without him as CDF is hell."

Mooed Pirzada, another noted journalist, took potshots at Nawaz Sharif, calling him a "dirty child" on X for failing to issue the required notification.

Another user tweeted, "Fraudster/impostor by the name of Asim Munir is acting/ posing as serving COAS. Arrest that zahini mareez (mentally ill person)."

Tech analyst and political commentator Hussain Nadim offered an interesting analysis of what might have led to the delay and the likely power battle playing out between Munir and Sharif.

"The elevation to CDF, Field Marshal, and life immunity were all likely deceptions to distract Asim Munir into believing in his own power and destiny. Once the army chief steps out of the dreamland of forever power, he will come to see how he got played," Nadim tweeted.

He also mentioned possible scenarios that could be playing out in the coming days, including one where Munir could go for a coup. That, however, is something that Pakistan is well aversed with, witnessing three such military coups in its 77-year history.

- Ends