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Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed his close aide Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari, aka Zulfi Bukhari, as his special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced.
He will have the status of a minister of state in his role as special assistant.
"The Prime Minister has been pleased to appoint, with effect from [Sept 14, 2018], Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, with the status of minister of state," read a notification issued by the cabinet division.
Bukhari is a close aide to the prime minister and was in charge of the PTI chairman's campaign in NA-53 for the July 25 elections. A dual British-Pakistani national, his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by the interior ministry in August on a request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He is accused of owning off-shore companies in the British Virgin Islands and owning assets beyond his known source of income, sources in NAB had earlier told Dawn.
Bukhari had come into the limelight earlier this year when he was stopped by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Nur Khan Airbase while accompanying Khan to Saudi Arabia because his name was on the interior ministry's blacklist. However, the ministry allowed him to travel abroad minutes later.
Upon his return, Bukhari filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court seeking the removal of his name from the blacklist. The court accepted his petition and ordered removal of his name from the blacklist.
A week later, the court was informed by the interior ministry that Bukhari was placed on the blacklist as a precautionary measure in response to a request from NAB to include his name on the ECL, because the subcommittee tasked with approving the inclusion of names in the ECL was dysfunctional at the time the request was sent.
The IHC subsequently allowed the interior ministry to proceed with NAB's request to place Bukhari on the ECL.
The induction of Bukhari into the federal cabinet takes its strength to 29. Out of the total, eight cabinet members belong to coalition parties.
Under Article 92 of the Constitution, the total strength of the cabinet — including state ministers — could not exceed 11 per cent of the total members of parliament. The total membership of both the lower and upper houses is 446 and the cabinet size cannot exceed 49 members.
Comments (103) Closed
IK rewarding for the investment he made?
Bad decision ...... is he not a British national ?
Good move..He deserves it.
This is ridiculous. I don't expect such measures by Imran Khan.
Good reward for his services.
Isn't he on ECL and being investigated by NAB? What a joke with the law of the country by our own PM
I respectfully disagree with this step. He should get people who are not dual citizens. I can't understand when we will stop this para shooting
Waiting Arshad Sharif's and Rauf Klasra's comments:) I can imagine whats coming in tonight programs.!!
Another blunder! This was totally avoidable!
Showering blessings on the friends............
Naya Pakistan but many things seem to be similar like old Pakistan.
IK wants the wealth of overseas Pakistanis redirected to Pakistan. Zulfi Bukhari being a well connected British Businessmen is very suitable individual to engage business communities!!
Nepotism by IK? Like nepotism by MNS? Is this the "change"?
A controversial decision.
CJP should take a notice of this British citizen holding Pakistani Minister post.
Is Zulfi well experienced or trained to do this job ? or adding on to miseries of overseas Pakistanis.
His first task should be to look at the status of the Overseas Pakistanis vis-a-vis filer and non-filer. All the Overseas Pakistanis should be considered as 'Filers' automatically and thereby no tax be deducted from them on making banking transactions.
Will be challenged and last resort SC will strike down his appointment
Panama is halal in this case?
sorry...but what are Zulfi Bukhari's credentials???
Everything will happen in this Country which is the tradition of politics. Naya Pakistan is a new mask on the old faces under the able leadership of IK.
For overseas Pakistanis, an oversea Pakistani (dual national) was required.
Naya Pakistan will very soon be "Same Old Pakistan"
Let's wait and see his performance if he didn't perform well I am sure he will be removed.
What kind of merit is this? Car sales must have raised enough money.
Excellent decision...
Bad move.How can you appoint someone under investigation to a government position as this ? PTI is not exactly setting the best trend here.
So Aleem Khan as the Senior Minister in Punjab and Zulfi Bukhari as the special assistant at the federal level. Imran Khan is rewarding his friends on a daily basis. One must remember that Mr Bukhari belongs from a family who has won the major contract for New Islamabad International airport and Mr Bukhari himself is involved in the construction business especially in the Islamabad region.
Ridiculousomento - if the fellow is under NAB investogation —- Reealy! Baad idea.
IK choices so far, including this one are not good ones! The dude has dubious background!
This was the trait of Shariffs: loyalty over credibility, where is the change?
@Parvez So what is the point, he is a top businessman, an influential person from UK, who best to understand foreign nationals then him. He has the clout to bring in big investments.
He is an established businessman and in top 100 influential Asian list. He understands overseas Pakistanis better than anyone else.
Minister without portfolio.
His only qualification is that he is a friend of Imran Khan. Wasn't he responsible for losing $3 million of Shaukat Khanam Funds in a shady investment?
@Ajaz --------- That is how politics works. You must repay the people who worked to elect you. It is the same everywhere.
Zulfi invested by paying for IK Charter Plane trip to Umra paid off,His name is in Panama and under NAB case ,got his name out of ECL by providing British Passport.
Cronies awarded!!!
A friend in need is a friend indeed. Isn’t? Nepotism at its peak. What makes Zulfi qualify for this job??
Isn't this guy under investigation? Another blunder by IK after UB episode!
So we are back to square one....
Dual national minister?
@Markhor Why giving him something he never worked for?
An overseas Pak for the post. He understands their problems, needs, aspirations, potential. Wise move.
Dual nationality citizens used to be threat to Pakistan security, what happened to that logic?
Same old system. Where is naya Pakistan. Where is merit
A dual citizen with ECL listing is the new chief of overseas citizens!!
not a good decision.
If this is happening then what wrong with the previous government.
Good Decision, IK has to build his own team because rest of people won't him to succeed.
Lets wait and see what this newappointee is going to accomplish for the overseas Pakistanis. Lets hope for the best.
Welcome to the new club of federal cabinet in Islamabad. Hopefully, you will do a better job than your predecessors.
@Parvez Do you really expect good decisions from incumbent government?
So, all honesty and accountability claims of IK were just riding on clouds?
Not the best choice! It might have pleased the PM to appoint his friend, benefactor, supporter, whatever, but does it please the public at large as well? I wonder!
This man Zulfi has many blames on him that would tarnish the image of Imran Khan as the harbinger of fair play in governance.
How can overseas Pakistanis contact him?
I don't know if he deserves it or not, but his progress should be monitored.
What? But why take such a risk? This guy is already controversial.
Good move IMO. He's a dual nationality holder. Pakistan can't go wrong by attracting Pakistanis living abroad. We can make a big difference in Pakistan I think. Pakistanis living abroad would happily invest and visit Pakistan more frequently if Govt gives them the confidence their money and lives are safe in Pakistan.
Same favoritism and nepotism. Mr. IK is also doing the same, which was done by previous governments, who rewarded their close friends and relatives. Everybody knows that Mr. Zulfi Bukhari is close to Mr. IK and it is only qualification for his elevation to the top job in the Government.
Double agent will be beneficial to both countries.
Everything ik accused others of doing, he's doing himself. This guy is under cloud of corruption and he's now getting paid back for his investment. Ik no different than others.
Overseas Pakistanis need a government that will stand besides them in good and bad times. They need the support of their country, not a new bureaucrat who has been appointed as a political favor.
@In-saf The change is, instead of MNS it’s IK.
With this appointment it is easy to understand that Imran Khan has compromised with the status quo. Welcome to Pakistani system IK.
Mr. PM please move gradually and do not show all your cards before 100 days over. People have started thinking the trend of your government
Easy solution would be to put his name on the ecl whenever he enters Pakistan and remove it whenever he needs to leave, that way everyone can be happy!
Joke. All these people are power hungry with no distinction.
IK rewarding own friends. Now one and one doing all the things that they used to criticize in last government.
What in the world is IK doing?
bad choice!
Can't it be called nepotism?
And PM Khan expects the expats to contribute towards the Dam fund? Whom are we trying to fool Mr. Khan?
Congratulations to Zulfi. He knows the problems faced by immigrants. Good decision.
Good move by IK. Need to mobilise all Pakistanis to uplift Pakistan into the 21st century.
Interestingly a dual national can't run election to be a member of parliament but can be given ministerial status by selection to be the boss of MPs. Our laws are mocked day in and day out...
Disappointing to say the least.
I thought that dual citizen can't hold government post?
I don't agree with some of the things IK doing. I am a PTI supporter but I think it is to focus on bigger issues. Bad move on converting Governor Houses, PM house and other government areas into public places because Pakistani will liter these places, Just look at what happened at Punjab Governor House.
@Sunny Yeah right. Why doesn't Mr. Bukhari brings his wealth to Pakistan himself first?
He is facing NAB enquiries n serious allegations n overlooking all this he is appointed in responsible position.Wherre the NAB chairman's rhetoric gone ,wd he take action or CJP take notice of.Never.If opposite of Imran's. PTI viz PML N had done this , it wd have definitely been called the next day.
Welcome to Naya Pakistan. At least in the Old Pakistan they were hush about appointments of close relatives and friends. Naya Pakistan was a dream. Its time for PTI followers to except the reality Pakistan is.
He will explore the strengths of the overseas Pakistanis who are a great asset to the nation.
This is naya pakistan .juat 1 year before some one place on ECL now he was minister of state
@zeeshandxb - I'm not big fan of this decision but having a dual national is better than what is on the table. Please remind me names without any history?
@A Pakistani - good point
What's the wisdom of making him minister from back date? Meaning he was a minister even before the issuance date of notification. Good Job IK, Keep it up!
U turn khan.
Wise choice. With a British passport ZB can travel around the world visa free. With a Pakistani pp only he would be greatly limited, waiting for visas.
IK should refrain himself by offering such position to his buddies and controversial man who is dual national, on ECL.
I am one that does not approve of Political Postings for Dual Nationals, by the way is he an elected Member of Parliament? In my book if one wants to engage in Politics in Pakistan one needs to be an exclusive or a pakka Pakistani; am afraid Dual Nationals do not pass the acid test. They are part Pakistani and part Foreigners. We must accept their offer of help with gratitute but limit it to areas out side the sphere of Politics.
So is this guy under investigation by NAB and on the ECL?
If so, this is a horrible decision. Can Imran Khan not find ONE person out of 200 million who is not under investigation by NAB?
@Sunny If he is well connected in the UK, he can act in a private capacity to help Pakistan. He does NOT need to become a minister in Pakistan government.
No dual nationals should be allowed in Pakistan government.
Unacceptale. Only Pakistani and not dual national be appointed or elected.
Imran's BAD decision
@Ajaz IK should have hired Zerdari, or Captain Sufder instead of Zulfi Bokhari.
@Adnan Mazher Khan what you think about the protocol they honored to IK son's.
@Hasnain Haque Big business do not come because of clout, they come if there is money in it for them.
yeeh start rewarding your own people regardless any merit
so this is so called tabdeli??
@Parvez He is assistant to PM on overseas Pakistanis. so what's the problem in having a British passport.
I thought we would not hire dual nationals?
Very disappointing. IK should not offer these position to his buddies, a dual national and investigation pending against Zulfi. No difference bt PTI and Previous government.
@Taimur there is no justification why he should be investigated by the NAB or be placed on ECL. NAB cannot determine that he has assets beyond his means when they have no idea of his income or his assets as he is based in UK and a tax payer in UK only.
@ghaznavi By repaying your benefactors? Oh come on, at least be fair to yourself.