ISLAMABAD – TV anchorperson Rauf Klasra has claimed that JamiatUlema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was gifted a bottle ofperfume by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to “calmhim down” following a heated exchange during a meeting between the two.

Last month, media reports had emerged that the army chief held a meetingwith Fazl ahead of the latter’s Azadi March in which he categorically toldthe JUI-F chief that he “stood by the constitution and democracy”.

“There is no possibility of a minus-Imran concept […] at a time when theregional situation was critical,” an anchorperson had quoted the army chiefas telling Fazl. “We have been doing what the constitution asks for,” thearmy chief reportedly said, according to the anchorperson.

While some, including ex-army officials, had denied the claims regardingany meeting between the two, no official statements were made as thejournalist claimed it was “common knowledge”.

On Sunday, Klasra claimed that “not only did the meeting take place, but italso saw a heated exchange of words between Gen Bajwa and Fazl”.

“Even though both sides state otherwise, it has been confirmed that themeeting did take place. Not only did it occur, but it was also marred by aheated argument as Maulana Sahib defied the army chief,” Klasra said in avideo doing rounds over the internet.

Klasra claimed that Fazl refused to budge on his plans and the situationgot tense enough for the army chief to gift him a perfume on his way out.“My sources say that Maulana was gifted a bottle of perfume to calm himdown,” he went on to say.