Asif alleges officials planned to relocate abroad while serving

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that senior government officials planned to relocate abroad while still serving, with Portugal among their preferred destinations. The claims, made in an October 18 post on X, were not accompanied by documentary evidence, and Asif did not identify the officials. Asif said some officials had arranged to settle in countries including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries. He questioned whether officials making such plans while holding public positions remained committed to their work and the country. His statements were allegations, and the reports do not independently verify that officials had secured residency or relocation arrangements. The minister also alleged that an intermediary who arranged permanent-residency plans for officials had fled after collecting substantial sums of money. He did not name the person or specify the amount allegedly collected. No details were provided about how many officials were involved or whether an inquiry into the alleged plans or intermediary had begun. The matter had also been considered by Pakistan’s Public Accounts Committee. In August 2025, the...