File photo: Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif
Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has questioned the loyalty of senior bureaucrats, alleging that several government officials planned to settle abroad while serving the country, according to a report by Pakistan’s Express Tribune. In a post on X, Asif said Pakistan had capable and honest bureaucrats, but alleged that many officials had made Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries their permanent homes over the past several years. Portugal, he said, had emerged as a destination for what he described as a bureaucratic exodus in recent years. Asif said the officers whose names had surfaced in connection with the matter had held important positions and remained close to successive governments. He said troubling accounts were circulating about the matter and questioned whether senior officials who had enjoyed the privileges and respect associated with public service had remained committed to Pakistan.
He claimed some officers had prepared for their relocation under a deliberate plan while employed by the Pakistani government. He added that he had raised the issue on social media a few months ago. He also alleged that an individual who facilitated permanent residency arrangements had fled after collecting substantial sums of money from several influential bureaucrats. The minister did not identify the officials or provide details to substantiate the allegations.