A video from Pakistan is sparking debate on social media, showing Army Chief General Asim Munir asking Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to vacate his seat next to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The clip, said to be from Doha, has gone viral on Reddit and is being widely seen as a symbolic display of the military’s dominance in Pakistan’s politics.
The footage shows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Munir together. After greeting the Iranian President, Munir signaled Dar to leave the chair beside Shahbaz. Dar promptly complied, allowing Munir to sit next to the Prime Minister.
Dar holds key position as Foreign Minister
Ishaq Dar, a veteran politician who began his career with Nawaz Sharif, is considered the No. 2 leader in Shahbaz Sharif’s cabinet. He heads Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, as Deputy PM, ranks third in the country’s hierarchy after the President and Prime Minister. Officially, the Army Chief’s position is below that of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Yet the video of Dar stepping aside at Munir’s signal has fueled criticism and mockery online. Many Pakistani social media users called Munir the “real boss” of the government, while others targeted Dar for complying so easily.
Munir’s expanding influence in Pakistan
Since taking charge as Army Chief in 2022, Asim Munir has steadily consolidated power, overshadowing Pakistan’s civilian leadership. He is regarded as the most powerful figure in Islamabad today, with reports even suggesting that he dictates government policy from behind the scenes.
Munir, who earlier headed Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, has met global leaders independently, including a private meeting with former US President Donald Trump at the White House. Earlier this year, following India’s Operation Sindoor, Munir was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal — fueling speculation that he could eventually assume the presidency.
Despite such rumors, Munir has publicly stated that he will remain Army Chief until 2027. However, his visible authority — now reinforced by the viral “seat change” video — has once again highlighted the Pakistani military’s deep grip on the country’s politics.
