Fawad Chaudhry 'knocks out' Shoaib Shaheen outside Adiala Jail

A scuffle broke out between former federal minister for information and broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shoaib Shaheen outside Gate No. 5 of Adiala Jail on Saturday. 

As per media details, Chaudhry called Shoaib Shaheen a “tout". In response, Shaheen told him to “mind his own business”.

Chaudhry then punched Shaheen, resulting in the latter falling to the ground and sustaining an injury on his arm. Following the altercation, Chaudhry went inside the jail while Shaheen was called inside by the Superintendent of Adiala Jail.

Media reports later in the day claimed that the former minister had made peace with Shaheen who, however, maintained that no such thing had happened.

As to the reason behind the altercation, it was claimed that Shaheen had quoted PTI founder as calling Chaudhry a "bhagora" [deserter]. But Chaudhry claimed that he had asked Khan, who told him he had not said any such thing. 

It may be noted that this is not the first time that Chaudhry has physically attacked a famous person. In January 2020, the then- Minister of Science and Technology was present at the walima ceremony of then Punjab Irrigation Minister Mohsin Leghari’s son. It was widely reported by media that Fawad slapped television anchor Mubashir Luqman.

Following the scuffle, Chaudhry took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “People like Mubashir Luqman have nothing to do with journalism. […] It is everyone's duty to expose such journalistic brokers.”

The former confidante of Imran Khan, while speaking to a private media news channel hours after the altercation, claimed, “There was a scuffle that broke out. A small fight broke out. In a fight, as usually is the case, he may have got one (slap) in, I may have hit one (sic).”

On being asked about whether his action was justified, Chaudhry responded, “Of course. It was my right. When you level such allegations, anyone will react." He added, "Everyone has a tolerance level. I face a lot of criticism. But I have not even blocked people on Twitter." 

He said that he had complained to the then-prime minister's aide on accountability, Shahzad Akbar, about Luqman's YouTube show and had also called the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency's cyber wing but did not get the desired response.

According to media reports, the physical altercation apparently occurred when the former TV host Mubashir Luqman uploaded a video on his YouTube channel on January 4, 2020, featuring him and anchorperson Rai Saqib discussing the TikTok stars Hareem Shah and Sandal Khattak's connection with Chaudhry.

Saqib, while citing TikTokers, claimed that both have multiple “immoral videos” of Chaudhry that they could release them at any time. “I have seen the video,” Saqib said upon being asked if he had watched Fawad’s videos.

In June 2019, Chaudhry was accused of slapping YouTuber Sami Ibrahim at a wedding function in Faisalabad days after Ibrahim had posted a video on social media, alleging that a plot to oust then Prime Minister Imran Khan and weaken the Pakistan Army was being orchestrated.

He further alleged that some from within the PTI were a part of this so-called plot, and without offering any concrete proof to support his accusation, Chaudhry was implicated in the video.

Following the allegation, Chaudhry took to X (formerly Twitter) on June 3, 2019, launching a piercing attack on Ibrahim. The then-minister resorted to slurs and insulting language against the anchor.