A Call for Accountability and Transparency
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has issued a strong challenge to Khawaja Asif, urging him to reveal the identities of Pakistani nationals who have allegedly siphoned billions from the country's resources and built vast empires abroad. The party is demanding that these individuals be named and held accountable, rather than allowing them to operate under the cover of silence and vague accusations.
In response to Khawaja Asif’s recent claims, which alleged that over half of Pakistan’s bureaucracy has amassed significant wealth through corruption, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has called for concrete evidence. He emphasized that if such claims are true, then it is imperative for the responsible parties to come forward and expose those involved in this financial misconduct. This includes not only current officials but also retired ones and their relatives, who have seen their wealth grow exponentially at the expense of national resources.
Waqas Akram criticized the lack of action from Khawaja Asif, suggesting that his claims appear to be more rhetorical than substantive. He pointed out that if the Sharif and Zardari dynasties could build their properties in London from mere "leftovers," then the scale of corruption within the government must be staggering. This led to a call for transparency, with Akram challenging Khawaja Asif to provide names and evidence if he truly has proof of these allegations.
The PTI CIS highlighted the importance of accountability, arguing that the current governance structure is deeply rooted in corruption. This includes the theft of public mandates, the paralysis of state institutions, and the silencing of the people's voices. In May 2024, an investigative report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed that 17,000 Pakistani nationals owned 23,000 residential properties in Dubai. These included former military officers, bankers, politicians, and senior civil servants, further substantiating concerns about the misuse of public funds.
PTI CIS also called on the bureaucracy to seek formal explanations from Khawaja Asif, as his unsubstantiated claims have brought international embarrassment to the nation. They criticized Talal Chaudhry for shifting blame onto the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan governments for failing to combat terrorism, emphasizing that the federal government must take responsibility for its policies that have led to various crises.
Waqas challenged Talal Chaudhry to address the unchecked activities of 'katcha' dacoits in Punjab and Sindh, urging him to question Maryam Nawaz and Murad Ali Shah regarding their inability to control these groups. He stressed the need for the federal government to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities, particularly in addressing cross-border terrorist infiltrations and allowing provincial governments to manage internal security without interference.
Akram emphasized that if the center is genuinely concerned about peace in KP and Balochistan, it should release the promised funds for the development of merged districts and grant provinces full authority over their natural resources. This would help prevent systematic underdevelopment and promote stability.
Furthermore, PTI CIS vowed to oppose any new military operations in the tribal belt, highlighting the fear and uncertainty faced by the local population. They called for a negotiated solution to the ongoing conflicts, advocating for strategies that prioritize peace and stability over military interventions.
Waqas reiterated the need for the central government to strengthen border management and prevent terrorist infiltration. He criticized the current regime for losing hard-earned peace and allowing terrorism to resurge. Pakistan's ranking on the Global Terrorism Index 2025, second only to Burkina Faso, underscores the growing threat of terrorism and the weakening of state control.
PTI CIS remains committed to ensuring the rule of law, upholding constitutional supremacy, safeguarding judicial independence, restoring true democracy, and securing the release of all political prisoners, including PTI founder Imran Khan. The party aims to dismantle an illegitimate political order and restore faith in the democratic process.