Defense Minister Slams Bureaucracy Over Foreign Properties

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made serious claims about Pakistan’s bureaucracy. He stated that over half of the country’s bureaucrats have purchased property in Portugal. According to him, these officials are now preparing to obtain Portuguese citizenship, raising concerns about their loyalty and intentions.

He shared these views in a post on social media platform X. Asif said that these are well-known bureaucrats, living comfortably after retiring with massive wealth. He accused them of corruption, claiming they have looted billions and now enjoy peaceful lives abroad. The minister referred to them as “crocodiles” feeding off public money.

Further criticising former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s administration, Khawaja Asif alleged that one of Buzdar’s closest bureaucrats received four billion rupees just in “wedding gifts” for his daughters. He used this as an example to highlight the unchecked financial misconduct in the bureaucracy.

Khawaja Asif contrasted politicians with bureaucrats. He said politicians own no overseas property or foreign citizenship because they must contest elections. In his view, it is the bureaucracy—not the politicians—that is damaging the integrity of Pakistan. His remarks have sparked a debate about accountability and the role of civil servants in governance.