Khawaja Asif Alleges Top Bureaucrats Buying Portugal Properties for Citizenship

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made startling claims regarding the country’s bureaucracy, alleging that more than half of its senior officials have purchased property in Portugal and are preparing to obtain foreign citizenship.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Asif said, “These are well-known and influential bureaucrats — ‘big fish’ — who have embezzled billions and are now enjoying a quiet retirement after looting the state.”

He further alleged that a close aide to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar received as much as Rs4 billion in “wedding gifts” during his daughters’ weddings and has now retired in comfort.

وطن عزیز کی آدھی سے زیادہ بیوروکریسی پرتگال میں پراپرٹی لے چکی ھے اور شہریت لینی کی تیاری کر رہی ھے۔ اوریہ نامی گرامی بیوروکریٹس ھیں ۔ مگر مچھ اربوں روپے کھا کے آرام سے ریٹائرمنٹ کی زندگی گزار رہیں۔ بزدار کا ایک قریب ترین بیوروکریٹ چار ارب بیٹیوں کی شادی پر صرف سلامی وصول کر چکا…

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) August 5, 2025

Highlighting the contrast between politicians and bureaucrats, Asif remarked, “Politicians only get leftovers. Most of them don’t even have plots or foreign citizenship, because they have to contest elections.”

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The remarks come amid growing concerns over elite corruption and capital flight from Pakistan, with recent reports suggesting an increase in property purchases by Pakistani nationals in European countries under so-called “golden visa” schemes.

There has been no immediate response from government institutions or the individuals accused in Asif’s statement.