Islamabad — Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy, alleging that a significant number of senior officials are securing properties in Portugal as part of a broader plan to eventually settle there—using wealth, he claims, obtained through corrupt means.
In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Asif accused “over 50 percent” of bureaucrats of acquiring assets in Portugal, with the intent to apply for citizenship in the European nation. The minister implied these purchases are part of an escape strategy by those who have allegedly enriched themselves while serving the state.
Without naming names explicitly, Asif pointed to one high-ranking bureaucrat—allegedly linked to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar—who reportedly received a staggering Rs4 billion in bribes during his daughter’s wedding festivities. The term “Salami” was used, referring to cash gifts that, in this context, Asif suggested were euphemisms for illicit payments.
“Politicians Get the Blame, Bureaucrats Make the Exit Plans”
Asif contrasted the unchecked privileges of civil servants with the public scrutiny politicians routinely face. He argued that elected officials, regardless of their flaws, remain answerable to voters and rarely enjoy the kind of anonymous power that bureaucrats wield.
“Politicians are constantly under the microscope, but it’s the bureaucracy that’s quietly preparing to leave the mess behind,” Asif stated, criticizing what he described as the bureaucratic elite’s lack of loyalty to the country.
He lamented that while politicians are vilified in the media and held to account through elections, many bureaucrats operate with impunity, accumulating wealth and planning exits to Europe, often without facing the consequences.
Context: Portugal as a Popular Exit Strategy
Portugal has increasingly become a preferred destination for affluent individuals from politically unstable regions due to its Golden Visa program, which allows investors to gain residency—and eventually citizenship—by purchasing real estate or making other qualifying investments.
Though Asif provided no direct evidence in his post, his comments reflect a growing frustration within political circles over the perceived double standards between the treatment of elected officials and career bureaucrats.
“This bureaucracy is polluting our land,” Asif concluded, framing the issue as not just a matter of corruption, but one of national accountability and fairness.
