Pakistan
Pervaiz Khattak Takes U-Turn From His Stance
Defence Minister was surprised to see reporting of incident on TV channels that were suggesting as if I had stirred a storm
Islamabad: Defence Minister Pervez Khattak took a U-turn from his stance and he was neither against the Prime Minister and he even cannot think about going against the prime minister.
Speaking to the journalists, the minister said that he left the meeting to smoke a cigarette. He also said he talked only the facts and did not leave the PTI parliamentary session due to altercation.
“I was surprised to see the reporting of the incident on TV channels that were suggesting as if I had stirred a storm.”
He said he talked only on the gas issue and his question was regarding gas schemes initiated in the KP and was asking that they should keep functioning.
Pervez Khattak maintained he did not say something like he would not give a vote in the parliament in favour of the finance bill. He said it was the inside matter of the party and he did not take any harsh stance.
Defence Minister Pervez Khattak denied that he had an altercation with “anyone”. However, he did say that he demanded his rights. “I only talked about my rights.”
Khattak said he left the meeting to smoke a cigarette. Khattak has confirmed the heated exchange by saying that he demanded his rights, though he would never put in on the record.
According to the sources, Pervez Khattak has criticised PM Imran Khan during the parliamentary party meeting before a key vote on the mini-budget. The harsh words exchanged from the issue of the gas shortage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The sources said that Khattak first exchanged words with Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and walked out of the meeting in protest.
The premier sent Ali Zaidi and Murad Saeed to bring Khattak back, but after coming back Pervez Khattak exchanged words with Imran Khan. He also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province produced electricity and gas but was still facing a shortage. “It is us who got you elected as prime minister,” he reportedly told Imran Khan.
Pervez Khattak said he and other leaders like him had to face voters and if the technocrats did not change their behaviour, people would not vote for the PTI.