SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has faced sharp online backlash after inaugurating what turned out to be an unauthorized Pizza Hut outlet in his hometown of Sialkot Cantonment.
On Monday, Asif cut the ribbon at the supposed franchise, greeted by cheering locals and shopkeepers. Images of the event quickly spread online, but Pizza Hut Pakistan issued a statement disavowing the outlet, saying it was not among its official stores and had misused the brand’s logo and identity. The company added that the outlet ignored food safety standards and violated trademark rights.
Pizza Hut confirmed it has lodged a complaint with authorities to investigate the misuse of its branding. Trademark violations remain a persistent issue in Pakistan, where counterfeit outlets and pirated branding often operate unchecked until incidents like this draw public attention.
The episode triggered widespread mockery across social media in both Pakistan and India, with memes highlighting the Defence Minister’s misstep. Critics questioned how a senior politician could endorse a business without verifying its legitimacy, while others defended Asif, arguing that politicians often attend local inaugurations without the means to check every detail.
Asif has not commented publicly, leaving the Defence Minister caught between embarrassment and the realities of local politics, where inaugurating shops and businesses is a common practice. For Pizza Hut, the incident has become a high-profile reminder of the challenges global brands face in protecting their identity. For Khawaja Asif, it is a lesson in how quickly a routine ribbon-cutting can turn into a viral controversy.
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