Khan was leading a long protest march to Islamabad demanding early elections when the incident occurred in Punjab’s Wazirabad town
Islamabad/Lahore: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sustained a bullet injury to his leg when a gunman opened fire on the container-mounted-truck during his protest march, killing one person, an IANS report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
The 70-year-old Khan was reportedly out of danger in what his party claimed was an “assassination attempt.”
The Punjab police said one person was killed seven injured in the attack. A suspect has been taken into custody.
The incident took place near Allahwala Chowk of Wazirabad town in Punjab when 70-year-old Khan was leading the long march to Islamabad demanding early elections.
According to eyewitnesses, a gunman fired on the campaign truck carrying Khan from a close range. They said one person has been arrested from the spot.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the cricketer-turned politician. His close aide Senator Faisal Javed was injured when a bullet grazed his face.
Geo TV reported the attacker was identified as Naved, a man in his early 20s who had been walking alongside the container.
In a video confession Naved said “He (Khan) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it so I… attempted to kill him”.
Khan had to undergo surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, his party leader Omar Ayub Khan said.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said the attack on Khan was a “well-planned assassination attempt”.
“It was not 9mm [pistol], it was burst from an automatic weapon, no two opinions about that it was a narrow escape,” he tweeted.
Another senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Khan was out of danger now. He added that the “attack was not just on Imran Khan but on the Pakistani nation”.
Khan had to undergo surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, his party leader Omar Ayub Khan said.
“Imran Khan was shot in the leg but was stable while being taken to hospital. He waved at supporters too,” his party said in a tweet.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail said that he was standing with Khan when he was attacked. “It was a straight fire… the bullet was meant to kill, not to scare,” he claimed.
Senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill said that “Imran Khan is our red line and an attempt has been made to cross that red line.” He said that Khan will fight till his last breath.
Pakistan’s top leadership, political leaders and the military strongly condemned the attack on Khan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed the Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident.
President Arif Alvi termed the attack on Khan as “heinous assassination attempt”.
The Pakistan Army has issued a statement condemning the attack on Khan. “Firing incident during Long March near Gujranwala is highly condemnable. Sincere prayers for precious life lost and speedy recovery and well being of Chairman PTI Mr Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident,” it said.
Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari “strongly condemned” the attack on Khan and prayed for his swift recovery.
His mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was killed during an election rally in Rawalpindi in 2007.
Meanwhile, supporters of Khan are holding protests in different cities to condemn the attack. In Quetta, protesters blocked traffic, protesters in Mardan also took to the streets. In Karachi, protests were reported in several parts of the city such as Sharae Faisal, North Nazimabad, Landhi, Quaidabad, North Karachi, Hub River road and Mauripur.
Imran Khan, was ousted from power after he lost a no-confidence vote against his leadership earlier this year in April
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