Islamabad 12 August: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused Pakistan’s bureaucracy of evading accountability for 78 years, alleging that many officials own properties in Portugal and are seeking citizenship there.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif claimed over half of the bureaucrats have invested in Portuguese real estate and vowed to reveal their names as part of an ongoing inquiry. He cited evidence, including photographs of the buyers, and urged the media to investigate further.
Asif also referenced a bureaucrat close to former Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, allegedly receiving Rs4 billion in salami at his daughter’s wedding.
He emphasized that bureaucrats should face the same legal scrutiny as parliamentarians, noting his modest lifestyle, living in a two-room flat for 25 years without a government vehicle or upscale property.
The minister clarified he has no involvement in the recent arrest of Sialkot’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue by the Anti-Corruption Establishment over financial irregularities. Asif dismissed resignation rumors and affirmed his support for PML-N leadership, including Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, ahead of Punjab by-elections.
