Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt after an armed man opened fire during a party rally near Allah Ho Chowk in Wazirabad, killing one person.
Khan is shot in the leg, but is out of danger. The 70-year-old leader was taken to Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore where he underwent surgery.
At least seven people, including top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Javed, have been injured in the firing that entered the seventh day of the anti-government march, which was launched by Khan in Lahore on October 28. ,
The cricketer-turned-politician was standing on the roof of a container truck greeting thousands of cheering supporters when gunman Naveed Mohammad Bashir opened fire from close range. He has been taken into custody.
The attacker, in his early 20s and wearing a salwar-kameez, was walking alongside the container and fired from the left side, reported live tv,
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said, “It was clearly an attempt to murder. Khan was hurt, but he is stable. There was a lot of bleeding.” reuters,
Soon after the attack, a video statement of the assailant surfaced on the internet, in which he was heard saying that he wanted to kill Khan because the PTI leader was “misleading the public”.
“He (Khan) was misleading people and I could not bear to see it so I tried to kill him.” dawn The newspaper quoted him as saying.
PTI leader Faisal Javed injured in firing waits for first aid | AP
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the shooting and ordered Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to demand an immediate investigation. Shahbaz postponed a scheduled press conference on his recent visit to China in light of the attack.
President Arif Alvi termed the attack on Khan as a “heinous assassination attempt”.
Alvi tweeted, “I thank Allah that he is safe but he has a few bullets in his leg and hope it is not serious. This attack is shocking, dangerous, shameful, deceitful and cowardly. Allah May he and all the injured be blessed with health.” who belonged to Khan’s party before assuming the presidency.
The Pakistan Army also issued a statement condemning the attack. The incident of firing during the Long March near Gujranwala is highly condemnable, the statement said. Praying for the speedy recovery of the precious lives lost and PTI Chairman Shri Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident.
Khan accused the army of supporting a plan to oust him from power. However, the army has rejected these allegations.
Meanwhile, Khan’s supporters blocked roads and held protests in various cities, raising slogans against the government. PTI workers also protested outside Sanaullah’s residence in Rawalpindi.
Imran Khan’s supporters protest in Karachi. AP
In a tweet soon after the attack, PTI leader Shireen Mazari demanded Sanaullah’s arrest. He said, “The country will hold the pullers and the ruling establishment responsible for this murderous attack on Imran Khan.”
Khan’s protest procession was due to arrive in Islamabad on 4 November, but PTI leader Asad Umar said that the convoy would reach the capital only on 11 November.
The former PM leader, who was ousted from power in April after losing a vote of no confidence in his leadership, had earlier spoken about a ‘threat letter’ from the US and claimed it was a foreign plot to oust him. Because he was not acceptable to follow an independent foreign policy. America has rejected the allegations outright.
