'PM has the right to appoint anyone as his aide': Zulfi Bukhari submits reply in disqualification case

E-Paper | April 26, 2026

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday, during the hearing of a petition seeking the disqualification of prime minister's aide Syed Zulfikar Ali Bukhari — aka Zulfi Bukhari — said that if appointments are made on the basis of nepotism, then the court will interfere.

The petition — filed by Muhammad Adil Chattha from Lahore and Mirza Abdul Moiz Baig from Karachi — has raised objections over Bukhari's appointment as the prime minister's special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development on account of his dual nationality.

"The court cannot change its decisions because someone is upset," remarked Chief Justice Nisar.

Earlier, Bukhari submitted his reply in the case, arguing that he held a British nationality because he was born there and got a Pakistani citizenship later. Bukhari gained his secondary education from a private school in Islamabad, where he studied from the age of 13 to 18. His family, the reply said, hails from Attock.

The prime minister, Bukhari said in his reply, had the right to appoint anyone as his aide.

The reply further said that Article 62 and 63 was only applicable to members of the Parliament and Bukhari was not a lawmaker.

Bukhari noted that the top court had granted overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. "To grant them [overseas Pakistanis] the right to vote but bar them from contributing to the country's development raises a question mark."

He also argued that if Pakistan can seek aid from international organisations like the International Monetary Fund, why can't it employ the services of Pakistanis holding dual nationality.

The hearing was adjourned until Dec 24 due to the absence of Chattha's lawyer who is currently abroad for medical treatment.

Bukhari is also facing an inquiry by the National Accountability Bureau for allegedly owning offshore companies in British Virgin Islands and assets beyond his known sources of income.

On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its verdict on Bukhari's petition seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

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haider shaikh

Dec 05, 2018 01:05pm

Why IK criticized NS when he exercised the same right?

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Asim

Dec 05, 2018 01:06pm

Valid arguments!

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Asif

Dec 05, 2018 01:08pm

Logical arguments which scattered brain Pakistani petitioners can't understand

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Abbas

Dec 05, 2018 01:15pm

If someone has substantial stakes in home country and wants to work there then give up your citizenship of other country and complete law requirements. All over the world, Leaders strip down their ministerial positions after discovering dual Nationality like New Zealand, Australia. So at the end, I m a dual national and again reiterate that Zulfi should drop his UK citizenship and join Pakistani politics.

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raja

Dec 05, 2018 01:17pm

This man cannot represent the overseas Pakistan while on the ECL. The Government has insulted hardworking Pakistani. IK must give him an other special post.

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Suleman

Dec 05, 2018 01:24pm

Maybe the PM has a right to appoint anyone he sees fit. But what does this say about Pakistan? There is no one else who can hold the position that Zulfi holds? It is time that Pakistan, like India, do away with dual nationality. How can you be loyal to two countries, it is a way of launder money to a rich country.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Dec 05, 2018 01:25pm

Zulfi is right, and does it means that no foreign citizen can hold government jobs or assist any MNA or government official? If so then why PMLN appointed German citizen as PIA's chairman in their previous tenor? What about foreign consultants, professors and other experts, who assist and advise us on different matters?

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Suleman

Dec 05, 2018 01:27pm

Why do you need foreigners to run your country?

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 05, 2018 01:49pm

This is indeed a historic test case for the wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. If the government and judiciary seek funds and foreign exchange all the times from the hardworking and patriotic overseas Pakistanis to sustain the economy or collect money for new dams etc., why can't an honest, dedicated, capable and debonair dual nationality holder like Zufli Bukhari serve his motherland as a minister or member of Senate, national and provincial assemblies?

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salman

Dec 05, 2018 01:56pm

@haider shaikh, and whom did Nawaz appointed which you are trying to say ?

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Masood

Dec 05, 2018 01:56pm

Sir, giving key positions of the country to dual nationals is an insult to Pakistanis who despite opportunities prefer to remain in Pakistan and also it tantamount to rewarding the opportunist who want to have their cake and it it too. Sorry, not possible.

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salman

Dec 05, 2018 01:57pm

@Suleman, He is a Pakistani as well.

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Dec 05, 2018 01:59pm

he being a foreigner knows better about overseas people. may be thats why he was deemed fit for the job. If this is how overseas pakistani will be treated then how do you expect them to contribute for the country positively. when in need its the overseas pakistanis who flood the country with contributions and donations. this is so unfair. this biased treatment makes us think how much the country negatively values us and our contributions.

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Haroon Junaidi

Dec 05, 2018 02:03pm

Its a consultative post. He has no authority. He cannot exercise any directives. He can merely advise. Furthermore the position he holds is such that it is not even mandatory to be filled. Zulfi Bukhari has played a key role in several fund raising events for Pakistan. He has promoted Pakistani movies abroad. He knows the movers and shakers, at least in the UK. He is a presentable character. The only disadvantage he has is that he is a bit disconnected from the labour diaspora working in the middle east. It is not that by appointing Zulfi Bukhari, IK is consolidating power in his own hands. Its a advisory role for which IK has the discretion to appoint. If the PM has a vision for which he sees Zulfi Bukhari fit than let it be. I would be more critical if the post was an authoritative one like an ambassador. Than his dual nationality would be questionable.

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Jamil

Dec 05, 2018 02:07pm

@Abbas, by your reasoning then, Pakistan should not accept any help from overseas pakistanis, including Bns in remittances and charities. If it wasnt for that aid Pakistan would be completely bankrupt. Zulfi is appointed as PM’s aide and not as a politician, just like the Govts in the past appointed external consultants. Why should he have to give up his dual nationality for this purpose unless he stood fior elections in Pakistan as per current law.

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Omer

Dec 05, 2018 02:13pm

Zulfi has claimed in NAB that Pakistani law is not applicable to him since he is dual national. How we can give him a post equivalent to federal minister? He'll use the same excuse to cover his wrong doings in this post.

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Sid

Dec 05, 2018 02:18pm

SC must take into consideration how this appt would benefit the employer on a professional and personal basis. If it’s good for the employer on a professional basis then no problem - if it means employer gains at a personal level then it’s wrong...

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Rizwan

Dec 05, 2018 02:19pm

Primarily he's not a Pakistani rather a 50/50 Pakistani to be fair. His life style and work profession (real estate business that he does in UK/Europe) does not reflect that he belongs to the cadre of an overseas Pakistani who has experienced difficulties/challenges and or opportunities that exist for Pakistanis in foreign lands. Mind you also that overseas Pakistanis are spread all over the globe with majority overseas Pakistanis in middle east. As such factors leading to his appointment are more nepotistic than Whats being said

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Khan

Dec 05, 2018 02:26pm

There is no Law when it comes to IK.

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Ramzan

Dec 05, 2018 02:36pm

If he is needed in future for investigation and sits is UK. Who will bring him back.

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Shaharyar Ahmad

Dec 05, 2018 04:05pm

@Masood, The Governor of the Bank of England is a Canadian citizen. The UK Government does not seem to any issue.

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Anon

Dec 05, 2018 04:12pm

@Abbas, I too was born in the UK and spent a few years in Pakistan as a kid, which is when I established my link with the country. However, I am both British and Pakistani. There is zero conflict in having both nationalities. Give up a nationality is silly. That's like the English telling id British Pakistani's we shouldn't suppprt Pakistan in cricket and should give up our UK passports if we do. Point being the world is shrinking and the diaspora is increasingly becoming global, so you can not deny them their right to input. Save top tier governmental positions the policy of exclusion of dual nationals must change to accommodate them to the maximum.

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Jhalat

Dec 05, 2018 04:19pm

Why Zulfi Bhukari has to be...something fishy!

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Zafar Khan

Dec 05, 2018 04:33pm

@Omer, His stand is As he has never done any business in Pakistan he is not answerable to NAB. This makes sense to me. I would not like any Pakistani govt authourity to ask me to justify my wealth as I have never worked in Pakistan and only go there for a few weeks every year to visit.

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Ranjha

Dec 05, 2018 04:36pm

@Asif, It is not that they can't understand; it is that they don't want to!

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Justicefirst

Dec 05, 2018 05:00pm

Overseas Pakistan with dual nationality can contribute to funds for the dams so why not contribute towards other good causes.

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Mushahid

Dec 05, 2018 05:18pm

The aide should have some professional qualifications! and not collect his investment by serving host to his friend!

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S Khan

Dec 05, 2018 05:32pm

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, Positions that are critical to the security of Pakistan and Pakistani interest should not have a person that could bring any foreign influence and someone with dual nationality is one of a clear cut indication. I just don’t understand that why these super rich people join political parties.

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Saad Malik

Dec 05, 2018 06:54pm

When it comes to contributing money towards the building of the dam he wants overseas Pakistanis to help. But if they want to return back and contribute to the country, he doesn't want you.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Dec 05, 2018 07:59pm

@Justicefirst, The first act is voluntary. If they don't give, no one is going to question them. In the other matter, their oath of allegiance to the other country could clash with their original country which must be avoided for their own safety apart from the risks it may create for their original land.

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Dec 05, 2018 10:17pm

If you genuinely loved Pakistan you would give up your UK citizenship without hesitation

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Asim

Dec 05, 2018 11:06pm

Mr Zulfi is trying to misled the audience by confusing facts. PM can appoint any one but only with in the ambit of law. There is no unbridled authority. The position of an advisor is equivalent to a minister. So same qualification should be applied. No one has barred Mr Zulfi or overseas Pakistanis to serve the nation. However, one must abdicated foreign nationality. No one can be loyal to two masters at the same time.

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M S Alvi

Dec 06, 2018 12:48am

I don't see anything wrong with Zulfi Bukhari's appointment as assistant to PM. Here are my points: 1) PM has the power to appoint anyone he likes 2) PM has to appoint someone whom he has confidence in 3) Dual citizens are Pak citizens. They have love of the country. 4) Political appointments are always filled like this, everywhere in the world.

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Kishver Niazi

Dec 06, 2018 08:58am

@haider shaikh, Nawaz can't be a resident of a 3rd country on a paid job position and the PM of another country. He did it to hide his money

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