Washington– Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir faced vocal protests during his visit to the United States, as demonstrators—reportedly members of the Pakistani diaspora—gathered in Washington, D.C., to denounce him as a “mass murderer” and accused him of undermining democracy in Pakistan.
Videos of the protest, widely circulated on social media, show crowds booing and shouting slogans as Munir arrived at a hotel in the U.S. capital. Demonstrators chanted phrases such as “Shame on you,” “Islamabad ka Qatil” (Killer of Islamabad), and “Asim Munir, you are a coward,” while waving banners labeling him a mass murderer.
The protests appeared to be a major embarrassment for both General Munir and the Pakistani establishment, particularly as his U.S. visit had been framed by some as a strategic counter to India’s growing diplomatic engagement with global powers.
Protesters accused Munir of authoritarianism and suppressing democratic institutions in Pakistan. Slogans like “When dictators rise, democracy dies” echoed the crowd’s discontent with the military’s political influence in the country.
The overseas wing of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party amplified the protests by sharing videos of the demonstrations on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). One post read: “Pakistani-Americans in Washington, DC are protesting outside the Four Seasons hotel, reminding General Asim Munir of the crimes he’s committed against the people of Pakistan.”
Munir’s visit had already sparked controversy after initial reports falsely claimed he was invited to attend a military parade alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House swiftly denied the claim, with an official stating, “This is false. No foreign military leaders were invited.”
The Army chief has been under fire in recent months, especially following a polarizing public speech in which he referenced the two-nation theory to justify Pakistan’s stance on India. The remarks drew widespread backlash online and further strained his public image. (Source: IANS)
