ISLAMABAD: Pakistani-origin British boxer Amir Khan says he has been defrauded of Rs22.5 million ($80,000) in Pakistan through a failed shisha café project in Islamabad, raising concerns about the protection of overseas investors.
Khan made the allegations in response to a video circulating on social media platform X, accusing a man identified as Khaliq Tanoli of unlawfully obtaining the money. He said he had no association with Zuma Islamabad and described Tanoli as a fraudster.
The former world champion said such incidents damage Pakistan’s reputation and undermine the confidence of people considering investing in the country.
“Pakistan is very close to my heart, but the government needs to take steps to protect foreign investors,” Khan said in his post.
There is NO connection between us and Zuma Islamabad, and Tanoli is a scam artist who has taken money unlawfully. This reflects poorly on Pakistan and on potential investors in the country 🇵🇰. Our love for the nation is strong, but @GovtofPakistan needs to provide security for foreign investors. @OfficialDGISPR
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) November 1, 2026
In an earlier post, he described such cases as a major reason why overseas investors hesitate to invest in Pakistan. He also tagged the Director General of the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Government of Pakistan.
What Does the Viral Video Claim?
The video alleges that Tanoli worked as a manager at a shisha café around 10 years ago before establishing between eight and 10 such cafés in different cities.
It further claims that he approached several people with offers of business partnerships and collected money from them.
According to the video, Tanoli told Khan that Islamabad had strong demand for an international-standard shisha café and obtained Rs22.5 million from him for the proposed venture.
The video alleges that the café was never established despite the payment, with a ban later cited as the reason for the project’s failure.
It also claims that when Khan sought a refund, Tanoli refused to return the money and allegedly resorted to legal tactics.
The video further alleges that after Khan pressed for the repayment, a call was made to police emergency helpline 15 through another person, falsely reporting that Tanoli had been abducted.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Who Is Amir Khan?
Amir Khan is a British boxer of Pakistani origin from Bolton, England. He won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the age of 17.
In 2009, he defeated Andriy Kotelnik to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight title. He later claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title in 2011 after defeating Zab Judah.
Khan competed in 40 professional bouts, winning 34 and losing six.
