Major Bureaucratic Scandal: Over Half of Pakistan’s Bureaucracy Acquiring Property, Citizenship in Portugal — Defence Minister
Islamabad:Pakistan’s Defence Minister **Khawaja Asif** has made a startling revelation, claiming that **more than half of the country’s bureaucracy** has acquired property in **Portugal** and is now preparing to obtain **Portuguese citizenship**.
In a statement posted on social media platform **X (formerly Twitter)**, the minister said that these individuals are **well-known bureaucrats**, many of whom have quietly secured real estate abroad and are planning for a comfortable life post-retirement outside Pakistan.
> “These crocodiles have embezzled billions and are now living peacefully after retirement,” Asif wrote. “One senior bureaucrat close to \[former Punjab CM] Usman Buzdar allegedly received **Rs. 4 billion** in wedding greetings (salami) alone during his daughters’ weddings.”
Khawaja Asif also criticized the **disparity between bureaucrats and politicians**, noting that:
> “Politicians only get the leftovers — and even then, they are ridiculed for it. Unlike bureaucrats, politicians can’t own foreign citizenships or multiple properties abroad, as they have to contest elections.”
In a scathing remark, the Defence Minister concluded:
> “It is this bureaucracy that is **polluting our sacred homeland**.”
The minister’s revelations have stirred intense debate, raising concerns about **corruption**, **lack of accountability**, and the **alleged exodus mindset** among Pakistan’s elite bureaucracy. No official names or further evidence were provided by Khawaja Asif in his public statement, though the allegations are expected to generate significant political and media scrutiny.
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
