Imran Khan shot at rally in Pakistan, 1 killed,13 injured, shooter confesses assassination attempt
Lahore : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was rushed to a Lahore hospital and later declared out of danger after he was injured in firing at his rally in Wazirabad in Pakistan's Punjab on Thursday afternoon.
A supporter was killed and 13 others were injured in what his party called an "assassination attempt" on the former cricketer.
The attack happened during his ongoing march to Islamabad at Gujranwala district, about 200 km from the capital, against the army establishment-backed central government.
With his right leg bandaged, Khan, 70, was seen waving as he was shifted into an SUV. He was later reported to be "out of danger".
Imran Khan was shot in the leg but was stable while being taken to hospital. He waived at supporters too. #عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن_ہے pic.twitter.com/XizoAQzPax
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 3, 2022
The attack brought back chilling memories of the assassination of another former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto during a rally in 2007.
Meanwhile, in a video shared by the police later, the attacker, who was overpowered and arrested, said he wanted to kill Khan and was not backed by anyone.
"I wanted to kill Imran Khan as he's been misleading the people," he said on camera.
🚨I wanted to kill Imran Khan only, attacker told Media. pic.twitter.com/1EaE1o7q6h
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) November 3, 2022
There were unconfirmed reports of another gunman, with an automatic rifle, at the spot.
The attacker, a young man, fired shots from below at Imran Khan as he stood atop a container truck.
At least four of Imran Khan's party leaders were among those injured, one of whom, parliamentarian Faisal Javed Khan said a supporter was "martyred".
Injured in the assassination attempt on Imran Khan, Senator @FaisalJavedKhan speaks exclusively. #عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن_ہے pic.twitter.com/PyrgQoeTs7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 3, 2022
Imran Khan was taken to Lahore's Shaukat Khanam Hospital, 100 km away, which he'd got built in his mother's memory in the 1990s.
What Pakistan Prime Minister said?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the firing and directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report from the police and administration.
Federal government will extend all support necessary to Punjab govt for security & investigation. Violence should have no place in our country's politics. 2/2 https://t.co/LWMUW03kQb
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 3, 2022
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the PPP, whose mother Benazir was killed in similar firing, said: "I strongly condemn the attack on Imran Khan. I am praying for his swift recovery."
Strongly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. Praying for his swift recovery.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 3, 2022
However. Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), has raised fingers at the central government over the firing incident and demanded answers from Punjab's provincial government, which is run by another party.
In fact, barely an hour before the firing, Imran Khan had told supporters in another part of Wazirabad town, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech, that they should accompany him to a different area instead, and promised to speak there, Geo reported.
His party tweeted a video showing him boarding the container truck from his black SUV.
The firing took place minutes later as he got to the roof for his speech.
عمران خان کنٹینر پر پہنچ گئے! #پاکستان_مارچ pic.twitter.com/LRAhFLH72t
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 3, 2022
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