Islamabad( The COW News Digital)Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has made explosive claims regarding the country’s top bureaucrats, alleging that more than half of them have purchased properties in Portugal and are actively seeking foreign citizenship.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the senior PML-N leader revealed that several prominent bureaucrats have already made substantial real estate investments in Portugal, a country known for offering citizenship pathways through property ownership. Asif criticized the move as a betrayal of national service, questioning the loyalty of those entrusted with key positions in governance.
“These are not ordinary individuals — they are well-known names who held powerful positions,” said the minister. “After looting billions, they now plan to spend a comfortable retirement in Europe under foreign nationalities.”
Khawaja Asif did not name individuals, but he pointed to one close aide of former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, claiming the bureaucrat collected over 4 billion rupees merely in ‘wedding gifts’ during his daughters’ weddings.
He went on to contrast bureaucrats with politicians, saying, “Politicians are left with crumbs. We don’t have plots or foreign citizenships because we have to contest elections.”
In a scathing remark, Asif added, “This bureaucracy is contaminating the sacred soil of Pakistan,” accusing them of corruption and opportunism. He argued that these officials abuse their power during service and then escape accountability by retiring abroad with dual nationalities and massive wealth.
This is not the first time such accusations have surfaced. Public trust in Pakistan’s civil service has steadily eroded due to repeated corruption scandals, with many high-ranking officials allegedly owning assets far beyond known sources of income.
The revelations come amid a broader debate in Pakistan about dual nationality, offshore holdings, and foreign residencies of public officeholders and government servants. Critics argue that those holding public positions should be legally barred from acquiring foreign citizenship or holding undisclosed assets abroad.
Khawaja Asif’s comments have reignited calls for stricter transparency laws and asset declarations for bureaucrats, similar to those required for elected officials.
The Defence Minister’s statement has gone viral across social media platforms, sparking fresh outrage and demands for parliamentary scrutiny into bureaucratic wealth and migration trends.
