Defence minister Khawaja Asif, in a shocking revelation, has publicly accused the country’s top bureaucrats of massive corruption and international money laundering, claiming that billions of dollars in illicit wealth have been moved from Pakistan to Portugal.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Asif alleged that over half of Pakistan’s bureaucratic elite have purchased property in Portugal using what he called “black money”, with many seeking residency or citizenship in the European nation as part of a quiet exit strategy.
Asif further said politicians are treated unfairly. “Politicians only get what is left over by them (bureaucrats) and still get blamed for everything,” he said, adding that most politicians do not own plots or foreign citizenship because they have to face the public and contest elections.
He further alleged that one senior bureaucrat, reportedly close to former Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar, received a staggering Rs 4 billion in ‘salami’ (ceremonial gifts) at his daughter’s wedding—a symbol, he said, of the unchecked and lavish lifestyles financed through corruption.
Asif labeled the actions of these officials as “shameful”, stating bluntly: “This bureaucracy is polluting our land.”
