Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, faced a wave of public embarrassment during his official visit to the United States after being heckled by protesters outside his hotel in Washington. The demonstrators, reportedly supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), gathered to demand the restoration of “unfettered democracy” in Pakistan.
Chanting slogans such as “Asim Munir, you are a coward,” “Shame on you, mass murderer,” and “Shame on you, dictator,” the protesters confronted Munir as he exited the building. Videos circulating on social media also showed people arguing with authorities who attempted to stop them from approaching the premises.
#WATCH | Pakistani citizens in the U.S. protest against their own Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during his visit.
Chants of “Asim Munir, you are a coward…” were heard, leading to a major embarrassment for Pakistan on foreign soil. pic.twitter.com/QdzHLGC3X5
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) June 17, 2025
One video showed a mobile electronic billboard parked near the building, flashing statements like “Asim Munir, Mass Murderer” and “Democracy dies when guns speak.”
US Visit Aimed at Military Engagement, Not Linked to Parade
General Munir’s five-day official visit to the US, which began on Sunday, is reportedly focused on strengthening military and strategic relations between Pakistan and the United States. According to a report by Dawn, the trip is “primarily bilateral in nature” and not connected to the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Army held on June 14.
While there had been speculation in diplomatic circles that Munir was invited to the Washington Military Parade, the White House categorically denied those claims. The Dawn report further confirmed that although Munir was in the US capital on the day of the parade, he did not attend the event.
PTI, led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, had earlier announced plans to protest outside the Pakistani embassy in Washington. The demonstration at Munir’s hotel appeared to be part of that broader effort to highlight alleged authoritarianism in Pakistan’s current political establishment.
