PTI’s Shoaib says no patch-up after Fawad slaps him, claims reconciliation

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Shoaib Shaheen has denied claims of reconciling with former minister Fawad Chaudhry after a physical altercation between the two outside the Adiala jail on Saturday.

Fawad Chaudhry had earlier stated that the conflict was resolved on the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan, but Barrister Shoaib rejected these claims.

The altercation took place before the hearing of GHQ attack case at Adiala jail, when Fawad Chaudhry and Barrister Shoaib Shaheen exchanged heated words at Gate No 5. The argument soon escalated into a physical confrontation.

During the scuffle, Fawad Chaudhry accused Shoaib Shaheen of being a “tout of agencies” and alleged that he had been “selling himself for just Rs5,000”. Fawad further blamed Shoaib for the losses suffered by Imran Khan and the PTI, stating, “Because of you, Imran Khan and PTI have suffered serious losses today.”

In response, Shoaib Shaheen called him a deserter and said, “Mind your own business. You have no right to interfere in our affairs.”

It infuriated Fawad Chaudhry who suddenly slapped Barrister Shoaib. As a result, Shoaib Shaheen fell to the ground and his arm was injured. After that, both abused each other. The jail officials intervened and stopped them from physical clash. Later, Fawad Chaudhry went inside the Adiala jail. The jail superintendent also called Shoaib Shaheen to his office. However, it was not known if Shoaib Shaheen would initiate legal action against Fawad Chaudhry.

PTI female leader Nadia Khattak, who was present at the time of the quarrel, said that Fawad Chaudhry should not have done this. “What he did physically was very bad. He hit Shoaib Shaheen who fell to the ground. Thankfully, none of his bones were broken” though his hand was injured, she said.

Later, during the hearing of GHQ attack case, the PTI senior lawyer informed the party founding chairman Imran Khan about the incident, over which he also expressed regrets.

Later, talking to the media outside the jail, Fawad said that Shoaib Shaheen was calling him a deserter during TV programmes and press conferences and attributing these remarks to the party founder chairman. He said when he asked Imran Khan, he denied outright having said anything like that. Fawad claimed that he had reconciled with Shoaib Shaheen, when Imran Khan gave him an order for it and now the matter stood resolved.

However, on the other hand, in a chat with the media, the lawyer once again called Fawad a deserter and charged Fawad with attacking him. “Fawad slapped me and got a better reply than that. We have settled the score fourfold,” Shoaib claimed.

He also contended that Fawad has no connection with their party and was trying to create rifts in it. He said he would neither approach the police nor PTI leadership to register a complaint against Chaudhry, however, he would not pardon him.

PTI lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha said former premier Khan expressed sorrow after being informed of the fight between Chaudhry and Shaheen. The matter had been resolved as the party founder reconciled both of them, he claimed.