Khawaja Asif Dismisses Resignation Rumours as Baseless Speculation

ISLAMABAD (RNN TV) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday firmly denied rumours suggesting he had resigned from office over the arrest of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Sialkot by the anti-corruption department.

Responding to viral claims on social media, Asif posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The person [posting this] has expressed his wishes, not the truth,” referring to journalist Zubair Ali Khan, who alleged that Asif had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Zubair claimed in his post that Asif’s resignation letter, allegedly sent to PM Office Adviser Dr. Tauqeer Shah, demanded either the release of the arrested officer or acceptance of his resignation. He also alleged that the arrested ADCR had served as a returning officer in the 2024 general elections and was remanded for five days over financial irregularities.

Further, Zubair claimed Asif had met PML-N President Nawaz Sharif in Murree to express his concerns, where Nawaz reportedly advised him to withdraw the resignation. The journalist also claimed Asif had gone incommunicado, switched off his phones, and moved to an unknown location—claims categorically rejected by the defence minister.

The rumours come amid rising tensions following Asif’s recent public criticism of Pakistan’s senior bureaucracy. In a strongly worded post, he accused over half of the country’s bureaucrats of investing in Portugal to secure foreign citizenship.

He further alleged that a bureaucrat close to former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had received Rs4 billion in ‘Salami’ at his daughter’s wedding. Asif later followed up, naming an individual called “Virk” as allegedly facilitating bureaucrats and elites in acquiring shelter and legal status in Portugal.

Despite the controversy and viral speculation, Khawaja Asif remains in office and has denied any intention of resigning.

Source: Web Desk