| Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari | |
| Term End1: | 2022 |
| Birth Place: | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Birth Date: | 3 December 1980 |
| Relatives: | Ejaz Hussain Bukhari (uncle) Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari (cousin) |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
| Primeminister2: | Imran Khan |
| Term End2: | 2022 |
| Term Start2: | 14 May 2019 |
| Office2: | Chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation |
| Primeminister1: | Imran Khan |
| Term Start1: | 13 March 2019 |
| Office1: | Chairman of National Tourism Coordination Board |
| Preceded: | Pir Sadaruddin Shah |
| Term Start: | 14 September 2018 |
| Primeminister: | Imran Khan |
| Office: | Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development (Minister of State) |
| Party: | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2018-present) |
| Termend: | 17 May 2021 |
| Native Name: | سید ذوالفقار عباس بخاری |
| Native Name Lang: | ur |
Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari (born 3 December 1980),[1] also known as Zulfi Bukhari, is a Pakistani politician, businessman and film producer.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
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).[8] After the 2018 election victory, Imran Khan announced his cabinet. Bukhari was appointed as a Minister of State. He held the following offices:
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.[12]
Zulfi Bukhari resigned from his office as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on OPHRD in a tweet on 17 May 2021.[13] [14] 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.[15] 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.[16] [17] Later Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan announced on 18 June 2021 that his resignation had not been accepted by the Prime Minister.[18] 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.[19] [20]
On 3 September 2022, he renounced his British Nationality.[21]
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.[22]
This was the first Pakistani movie to receive a full red carpet premier in London’s Leicester Square.[23] 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.[24]
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.[25]
He also made the cover of the December 2020 edition of HELLO! Pakistan, the country’s best selling fashion and lifestyle magazine.[26]