Fawad Chaudhry, Shoaib Shaheen scuffle outside Adiala jail

RAWALPINDI: A scuffle broke out between ex-federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Shoaib Shaheen at the entrance of Adiala jail.

The altercation occurred at Gate No 5 of the prison.

Sources said that Chaudhry had called Shaheen a "tout," prompting the latter to respond by telling him to mind his own business.

The situation escalated when Chaudhry slapped Shaheen, causing him to fall to the ground and injure his arm. Following the clash, the former minister went back into the prison's premises while the jail superintendent called Shaheen inside.

PTI worker Nadia Khattak, while commenting on the incident, said that while disagreements were normal, physical violence should not have occurred. She confirmed that Shaheen had sustained an injury to his hand but no fractures.

The former ruling party has been facing "internal rifts", with members of its high leadership having differences on various matters. The most recent is the case of firebrand lawyer-turned-politician Sher Afzal Marwat, who was expelled from the party over disciplinary violation. 

It is worth noting that Chaudhry, who has been facing a slew of cases, had parted ways with the Imran Khan-founded party following the crackdown on its leaders in the wake of  violent events of May 9, 2023. 

However, the veteran politician denied leaving PTI last year, saying those who abandon something return to it but since he never quit the party, there was no question of him going back.

He has previously been involved in similar encounters with journalists Mubasher Lucman and Sami Ibrahim.