SIALKOT (Kashmir English): Defense Minister and PML-N politician Khawaja Asif has faced backlash after he inaugurated a pizza eatery in Sialkot Cantonment, branded as a Pizza Hut outlet, which was declared unauthorised by the international chain.
The videos were shared on social media, where the minister can be seen cutting the ribbon along with other guests, formally inaugurating the pizza restaurant.
However, as the video went viral, restaurant chain Pizza Hut Pakistan, on its official Facebook page, clarified that the said outlet is unauthorised and is “falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding.”
“This outlet is not associated with Pizza Hut Pakistan, or Yum! Brands. It does not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, food safety, and operational standards,” the food chain said in an official statement.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif just inaugurated a fake Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot 😃 pic.twitter.com/sLPnQuBGqi
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) January 20, 2026
It further said that they have formally “filed a complaint with the relevant authorities” to stop the misuse of our trademark and ensure immediate action.
Pizza Hut’s clarification drew the attention of netizens, with many demanding action from the relevant corporate and regulatory authorities.
A user, affiliated with PML-N Sialkot, wrote that this outlet was formally inaugurated on the personal request of the franchise by Khawaja Muhammad Asif and has nothing to do with the unlawful operations of Pizza Hut Sialkot Cantt.
In past years, Pizza Hut had expanded its presence in Pakistan, with dozens of official stores across major cities under local franchise management. The chain currently operates a total of 16 stores nationwide: 14 in Lahore and 2 in Islamabad.
