Image Source: The Express Tribune

Agencies:

Asim Bajwa quits as Imran Khan�s adviser, to continue as CPEC Authority chief

New Delhi
October 12, 2020

Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa (retd.) announced his resignation as Special assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting after Prime Minister Imran Khan accepted his resignation following a corruption scandal. He will, however, continue to head the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) Authority.

"I requested the honorable Prime Minister to relinquish me from the additional portfolio of special assistant to the PM on information & broadcasting. He very kindly approved my request," he tweeted.

Asim Bajwa will continue to work as chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority or the ambitious CPEC project.

Asim Bajwa had put in his papers to Prime Minister Imran Khan last month after the enormity of his family's assets came to light. According to reports, his family's assets have grown disproportionately in the time he was in the Pakistan Army. His family also owns and runs Bajco in the United States that owns Papa John's pizzeria outlets in many U.S states.

There was widespread outrage on Pakistani social media after journalist Ahmed Noorani published an article claiming that Asim Saleem Bajwa used his influence and power to set up offshore businesses that were on paper led by his wife, sons and brothers.

Bajwa then resigned from one position and held on to the more powerful and lucrative position in the CPEC Authority. He denied the allegations and said he could prove the source of all his assets.