Fawad lashes out at Salman Raja, Raoof among others after PTI's condemnation notice

Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry launched a scathing attack against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raoof Hassan, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Sunday after PTI issued a statement condemning his violent altercation with lawyer Shoaib Shaheen. 

Chaudhry took to X (formerly Twitter) to write a series of allegations against the PTI political committee, saying that it was involved in the embezzlement of public funds. 

“The majority of members in PTI's political committee […] have embezzled millions in party funds. They refuse to be held accountable for funds collected in the name of Imran Khan [PTI founder] and party workers,” Chaudhry said, stressing that holding them accountable for the funding is extremely important.

Chaudhry claimed that lawyer Shoaib Shaheen, who had earlier been a victim of a Chaudhry punch outside Adiala Jail on Saturday, Waqas and Raja had caused severe damage to PTI. “This group has swallowed millions under the guise of legal and media management,” he alleged.

Fawad Chaudhry revealed that PTI Secretary Information received 50 million rupees in salary despite PTI’s media team not getting paid for the last four months.

He reiterated, “Accountability for funding is crucial because PTI's media department has not received salaries for the past four months, and the cleaning staff has been laid off. Meanwhile, people like Raoof Hassan are getting a hike in salary.”

Chaudhry then moved his crosshair towards PTI Secretary-General. “Salman Raja has been a legal aide and supporter of the Sharif family in every corruption case, from Panama to other scandals,” he alleged.

Chaudhry said that Akram started his career as a courier. “Now, he is enjoying luxury at the expense of PTI’s funding and the provincial budget,” he added.

Chaudhry's allegation against PTI leaders came hours after the PTI political committee issued a statement condemning his violence against lawyer Shoaib Shaheen. The statement dubbed Chaudhry’s action a “crude and callous demonstration of the animal instinct over logic and reason.”

The altercation between Chaudhry and the PTI senior leader occurred outside Adiala Jail gate no. 5 on Saturday after Chaudhry called 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.

Further terming Chaudhry’s action “a criminal act”, the statement said, “It is not a slap on the face of Mr. Shoaib Shaheen alone. It is a slap on the face of PTI.”

Additionally, the statement read, “His dastardly conduct further reflects the frustration that Fawad Chaudhry may be suffering from when, as per instructions of the Founder Chairman Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, the party announced its complete dissociation from his person. It was also announced that Mr. Fawad Chaudhry would not represent the party at any forum in any manner whatsoever.”

“The Political Committee of PTI takes a serious note of the incident and condemns Mr. Fawad Chaudhry’s gross demeanour in the strongest possible words. The Political Committee also reiterates its complete support for Mr. Shoaib Shaheen for his sagacity in the face of adversity. We salute his courage and composure in dealing with an ugly situation. Despite the dastardly provocation, we call upon our activists and workers to remain peaceful. The party shall prevail.”