Over 50% Pakistani Bureaucrats Have Bought Properties in Portugal: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that more than half of Pakistan’s bureaucrats have purchased properties in Portugal and are seeking citizenship to settle abroad. In a post on platform X, Asif claimed that several senior officials are planning to retire overseas using wealth acquired through corruption. He alleged one bureaucrat, close to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, received Rs. 4 billion in salami at his daughter’s wedding. Asif said that politicians are unfairly blamed, despite having fewer assets and no foreign citizenship, while bureaucrats often avoid scrutiny. He called the bureaucracy’s actions “shameful” and accused it of damaging the country.