QUETTA: Workers of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday clashed at the airport as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak arrived in Quetta – capital of the restive and quake-hit Balochistan province.

Two rival groups from within the PTI exchanged punches outside the airport after some party workers, leading different factions, tried to stop president of PTI’s Balochistan chapter, Qasim Suri, from sitting in the same vehicle as Khattak.

Some sources said the fight kicked off when Suri and his cabinet members entered the airport’s VIP lounge and did not allow members of the opponent group to do so. However, Suri was reportedly injured during the quarrel.

The squabble was settled down by the airport authorities and the KP chief minister was driven off to the CM Secretariat.

Later, Khattak during a press conference said that a third force was involved in the deadly suicide attack on KP law minister Israrullah Gandapur and in other incidents of terrorism.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Secretary General PTI Jahangir Tareen and others flanked him during the media interaction.

He said the law and order situation would further worsen if peace talks with the Taliban were delayed. All parties including Tehrik-i-Insaaf have mandated the federal government for holding talks with the Taliban, he added.

Announcing solidarity with the earthquake-affected people of Awaran district, the KP CM announced a Rs80 million donation.

Earlier, speaking to media representatives upon arrival at Quetta airport, Khattak said the two governments in KP and Balochistan have come into being with a spirit to eliminate corruption from their provinces and abolish the 64-year old system to bring in a new welfare system.

Khattak also called on Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai. Speaking on the occasion, the governor condemned acts of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi and expressed grave concern over the law and order situation in these areas.

He said the federal government should pay serious attention on countering terrorism and that effective steps should be taken in this regard.