GUJAR KHAN, Oct 21: A press conference of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) office-bearers at the Potohar Press Club here on Friday turned into a scuffle when a party leader, Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, challenged his expulsion from the PML.

The incident took place when PML Rawalpindi District Vice- President Chaudhry Jawaid Kausar was speaking at the press conference. Party’s city president Abdul Hameed Bhutto and former tehsil naib nazim Amir Afzal Qureshi were also present.

On the occasion, Mr Kausar said Shaukat Aziz Bhatti had violated the party discipline by contesting the election for the slot of tehsil nazim against the PML-backed candidate, Chaudhry Mohammad Azim. Therefore, he said, according to an announcement made by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ilahi, Mr Bhatti had been expelled from the party.

During the question-answer session, Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, former PML additional general secretary in Rawalpindi District, entered the main hall of the press club with a couple of supporters and challenged his expulsion.

He said Jawaid Kausar and Amir Afzal Qureshi were not empowered to expel him from the party.

Later when Mr Kausar and his companions were leaving the stage, Mr Bhatti intercepted them and allegedly pulled out his pistol, which led to a scuffle between the two. However, the press club general secretary, Farzand Ali, and other newsmen present on the occasion intervened and separated Mr Qureshi and Mr Bhatti.

The PML leaders and journalists informed Rescue 15 and the local police station about the incident, but the police arrived well after the departure of Shaukat Aziz Bhatti.