Pervez Khattak confirms heated exchange in party's session, says he demanded his rights

Islamabad: Defence Minister has said that he left the meeting to smoke a cigarette. 

Speaking to journalists outside the meeting room, 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.