Khawaja Asif denies resignation, labels viral tweet fake

Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rebuffed on Thursday speculation that he has resigned, terming the claims “completely fake”. 

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader posted a screenshot of a thread shared on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Zubair Ali Khan asserting that Asif had resigned from his position in office.

Marking the screenshot “fake”, Asif wrote, “With apologies, this gentleman has expressed his wishes in this tweet, not the reality”. 

Khan claimed that Asif had resigned in response to “intensified controversy surrounding the arrest of the additional deputy commissioner revenue (ADCR) of Sialkot a few days ago on charges of alleged financial corruption”.

According to Zubair’s thread, “In the resignation submitted to Dr Tauqeer Shah, advisor to the prime minister’s office, Khawaja Asif stated that either the ADCR should be released or his resignation should be accepted.”

Khan also alleged that an “influential person” was involved in the arrest, someone who was reportedly a subordinate within the defence minister’s department.

He later shared an update, further claiming that Asif and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had held a meeting in Murree, during which the PML-N president advised Asif to withdraw his resignation, and the defence minister agreed.

“Following the meeting, Khawaja Asif has become unreachable; neither any minister nor journalist is able to contact him. He has switched off all his phone numbers and moved to an undisclosed location,” Khan claimed.

The rumours began after Asif alleged that a large segment of Pakistan’s bureaucracy was seeking refuge and citizenship in Portugal, taking billions of rupees with them.

In a post on Tuesday, Asif wrote on X, “More than half of the bureaucracy of our dear homeland has already acquired property in Portugal and is now preparing to secure citizenship”.

“These are prominent bureaucrats who, after embezzling billions, are now enjoying a relaxed, retired life,” he wrote. 

Commenting on politicians, Asif remarked that they “feed on the leftovers and make noise, without owning plots or holding foreign citizenship, because they are bound by the need to contest elections”.

He also alleged that “the key figure facilitating the bureaucracy and other elites in obtaining shelter in Portugal is Mr Virk”.