Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari
سید ذوالفقار عباس بخاری
Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development (Minister of State)
In office
14 September 2018 – 17 May 2021
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byPir Sadaruddin Shah
Chairman of National Tourism Coordination Board
Assumed office
13 March 2019
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
Assumed office
14 May 2019
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Personal details
Born (1980-12-03) 3 December 1980
Islamabad, Pakistan
Political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2018-present)
RelativesEjaz Hussain Bukhari (uncle)
Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari (cousin)

Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari (born 3 December 1980), also known as Zulfi Bukhari, is a Pakistani politician, businessman and film producer.[1]

He served as a Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan in the capacity of a Minister of State in the federal cabinet until his resignation on 17 May 2021 over the allegations levelled at him in regard to the Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal.[2] The allegations were found to be politically motivated initiated by PTI insider to create distance between Zulfi Bukhari and PM Khan. The investigation team formally cleared him and PTI re-instated him on party positions. [3]

Family

Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari is a British-born Pakistani politician and entrepreneur; born on 3 December 1980. He is popularly known as Zulfi Bukhari. He was a member of Pakistan's Federal Cabinet as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development.[4] He was also appointed Chairman of National Tourism Coordination Board, Pakistan. He belongs to Pakistan’s ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

His family roots lie in Attock, Punjab, and his father Wajid Hussain Bukhari served as environment minister in Pervez Musharraf’s cabinet while his uncle Ejaz Hussain Bukhari is an important PTI politician in Attock.[5]

Business career

Zulfi Bukhari is a business tycoon, owns a number of properties in UK and founder of many companies including a UK based luxury real-estate business established in 2011. He is also the founder of Hooks Gym & a London-based design studio.

Among these companies is HPM Developments, which was dissolved under an Insolvency Proceeding in 2020 in London.[6]

Politics

He has been an active member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and a close aide to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan since 2011. In 2018, Bukhari was head of Imran Khan's campaign in NA-53 (Islamabad-II).[7] After the 2018 election victory, Imran Khan announced his cabinet. Bukhari was appointed as a Minister of State. He held the following offices:

  1. Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development[8]
  2. Chairman Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation[9]
  3. Chairman of National Tourism Coordination Board[10]

Zulfi Bukhari holds the party position of 'Advisor to the Chairman on International Media'. He is also responsible for keeping Overseas Pakistanis engaged and represented. [11]

Controversies

Zulfi Bukhari resigned from his office as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on OPHRD in a tweet on 17 May 2021.[12][13] He quoted reasons as taking high moral approach as his name had been hinted at in a controversial report unveiled by the government of Pakistan.[14] The allegation came on him for misuse of power owing to his relationship with Dr. Syed Tauqir Bukhari who had been named in the report. He denied any connection as his family is not even on talking terms with Dr Tauqir, he asked for his name to be placed on ECL if need arises. He also declared that he has no role in the alleged ring road scam.[15][16] Later Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan announced on 18 June 2021 that his resignation had not been accepted by the Prime Minister.[17] The allegations proved to be politically motivated initiated from inside the party. He was eventually cleared off by the investigation teams and given his political positions back, meanwhile, Imran Khan's party was voted out of power through No-confidence motion against Imran Khan.[18] [19]

On 3rd September 2022, he renounced his British Nationality.[20]

Film production

He has interests in film production. He was the executive producer of the 2018 movie Cake, selected as Pakistan’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.[21]

This was the first Pakistani movie to receive a full red carpet premier in London’s Leicester Square.[22] Cake both challenged the Western perceptions of Pakistani film and stimulated the cultural economy whilst proudly showcasing Pakistani talent to an international audience. Cake was named as Pakistan’s official entry for the Foreign Language Film at the following Academy Awards following critical acclaim and box office success in September 2018.[23]

Media image

He was featured in May 2018 by The Muslim 100 Power List, which honours the most powerful and influential Muslims for the very highest level of achievement within the international Muslim community and positively promotes the outstanding contribution made by Muslim men and women on the local, national and international stage. Zulfikar, was acknowledged as one of The Most Influential Trailblazers in Britain Today, others on the list were London's Mayor Sadiq Khan.

He is the first Pakistani to appear on the cover of the Mayfair Times.

The UK-based entertainment and lifestyle magazine Asian Style Magazine has described him as one of South Asia’s five best dressed men in 2020.[24]

He also made the cover of the December 2020 edition of HELLO! Pakistan, the country’s best selling fashion and lifestyle magazine.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Bukhari, Zulfi (24 September 2018). "Zulfi Bukhari". Pak Pedia.
  2. ↑ "Zulfi Bukhari resigns as PM's aide over allegations in Ring Road scam case". DAWN.COM. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  3. ↑ "Buzdar, Zulfi, Sarwar cleared in Ring Road scandal". tribune.com.pk. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  4. ↑ "Zulfikar Bukhari calls on Oman's labour minister". www.thenews.com.pk. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  5. ↑ Shah, Murtaza Ali (2016-05-10). "Nothing wrong in supporting Imran's political, charitable causes: Zulfi Bukhari". Geo News. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  6. ↑ "Financial deal to keep Reham quiet in the air". The News International. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "NA-53 ignored in past 11 years: Zulfiqar Bukhari". The Express Tribune. 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  8. ↑ "PM Khan appoints Zulfi Bukhari as special assistant on overseas Pakistanis". DAWN.COM. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  9. ↑ "Zulfi Bukhari appointed chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation". DAWN.COM. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  10. ↑ Nagri, Jamil (2019-03-16). "PM forms board to promote tourism". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  11. ↑ Nagri, Jamil (2023-06-05). "Zulfi Bukhari named PTI chief's adviser on foreign media". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  12. ↑ Dawn.com (2021-05-17). "Zulfi Bukhari resigns as PM's aide over allegations in Ring Road scam case". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  13. ↑ "My Prime Minister has always said ..." Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  14. ↑ "Govt's Ring Road 'scam' is a scandal in itself". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  15. ↑ "Put me on ECL till probe is complete, says Zulfi". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  16. ↑ "Ring Road scam: Zulfi resigns to clear name". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  17. ↑ Haq, Riazul (2021-06-18). "Zulfi Bukhari's resignation has not been accepted, says Ghulam Sarwar". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  18. ↑ "Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ousted as country's leader following a vote of no-confidence". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  19. ↑ "Buzdar, Zulfi, Sarwar cleared in Ring Road scandal". aboutpakistan.com. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  20. ↑ "Zulfi Bukhari renounces his British Nationality". THENEWS.COM. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  21. ↑ "Reham Khan thinks 'Cake' was sent to Oscars because its producer is a friend of PM Khan". Something Haute. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "'Cake' becomes first Pak film premiered at Leicester Square". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  23. ↑ "'Cake' is Pakistan's official entry to Oscars 2019!". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  24. ↑ "Fawad Khan, Zulfi Bukhari among South Asia's Best Dressed Men". Express Tribune. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Zulfi Bukhari on HELLO! magazine's Hot 100 cover". The News International. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
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