Bukhari vows to sue Khawaja Asif over Taftan allegations.

ISLAMABAD -- Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, known as Zulfi Bukhari, has stated that he will sue Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Asif over his allegations that he had used his influence over the authorities to allow return of the Zaireen (pilgrims) from Iran through the Taftan border without fulfilling the requirements of testing and quarantine.

Mr Bukhari, who has been facing criticism from his opponents and some political groups, over his alleged role in bringing back the Zaireen from Iran termed the allegation a 'blatant lie'.

In an interview to the Voice of America on Saturday, Mr Bukhari alleged that by giving an 'irresponsible statement' on TV channels, Khawaja Asif had put his life at risk.

'If a responsible leader belonging to an opposition party will make an irresponsible statement on TV saying that coronavirus has spread in the country due to Zulfi Bukhari as I allowed Zaireen to return home from Taftan (border) then my life comes in danger,' Mr Bukhari said, adding that had any politician made such a 'false statement' on TV in any other country, he would have landed in jail.

When contacted, Khawaja Asif said that his lawyer would respond to Mr Bukhari's legal notice once he received it.

When asked if he stuck to his allegation that Mr Bukhari was responsible for the spread of coronavirus through the Zaireen from Iran, Mr Asif said not only him, but 'the whole country is now saying this'.

'Even one of his (Mr Bukhari's) relatives has made the statement now,' said Mr Asif, who is also the parliamentary leader of the PML-N in the National Assembly.

On the other hand, claiming that he had nothing to do with the matter of the pilgrims from Iran, Mr Bukhari said the pilgrims were allowed to return to the country under the same policy under which some 15,000 to 20,000 Umra pilgrims were allowed to return home from Saudi...