ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made startling disclosures, claiming that over half of Pakistan’s bureaucrats have acquired property in Portugal and are actively pursuing European Union citizenship.
In a post on social media platform X, the Defence Minister alleged that several prominent bureaucrats amassed wealth through corruption amounting to billions of rupees and are now enjoying a comfortable lifestyle abroad, shielded from any form of accountability.
He singled out one bureaucrat closely associated with former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, claiming the individual collected Rs4 billion in “salami” during his daughters’ weddings and has since retired without facing any investigation or legal consequences.
Defending elected politicians, Asif asserted that unlike bureaucrats, public representatives cannot escape scrutiny, as they are answerable to the people and must contest elections. He claimed that the root of systemic corruption lies within the bureaucracy and the elite class, accusing them of “defiling the holy land.”
Asif also alleged that a key figure—a so-called “workman”—is facilitating the relocation and investment of these bureaucrats in Portugal, helping them acquire European citizenship. Journalist Afzal Sial supported Asif’s claims, stating that the individual in question is a powerful property developer with a prominent office in Lahore’s Gulberg.
According to Sial, this builder acts as a conduit for bureaucrats investing in Portugal, enabling them to access EU citizenship and the accompanying benefits of visa-free travel, residency, and business opportunities across 29 European countries.
