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Khawaja Asif alleged that over half of Pakistan’s bureaucratic elite have purchased property in Portugal using what he called ‘black money’
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)
Pakistan’s 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.”
Commenting on Asif’s revelations, top Indian intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that this was a “classic case of elite asset laundering under diplomatic immunity”.
“This is a serious loophole that FATF mechanisms failed to audit rigorously. Portugal was deliberately picked as a low-risk FATF blind spot, bypassing stricter jurisdictions like the UK or UAE which are now under increased scrutiny. This confession is designed to shift global watchdog attention from military-political corruption to civil bureaucratic sectors,” they said, adding that it was an attempt to protect ISI and senior army officials from immediate sanctions.
“This is a systemic laundering via Gulf-EU laundering corridors, possible due to FATF’s inadequate scrutiny of complex intercontinental real estate chains,” they said.
Corruption in Pakistan is a long-standing and deeply rooted issue that affects nearly every sector of governance, from the political elite and bureaucracy to the judiciary and law enforcement. It has been a major barrier to the country’s development, weakening institutions, draining public resources, and eroding public trust.
While politicians have been widely accused of misusing public funds, accepting kickbacks, and owning undeclared foreign assets, civil servants are often accused of taking bribes for routine administrative tasks, such as issuing licenses or clearing government projects.
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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