By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Protesters have taken to the streets on Thursday after former prime minister Imran Khan was wounded in an assassination attempt at a protest rally near Gujranwala, party officials said.
A gunman opened fire on a convoy carrying Khan, wounding at least seven people and killing a party supporter.
Witnesses said a bullet hit Khan in his foot when a gunman opened fire at his container truck. Khan is being taken away from the rally site just outside the town of Gujranwala to receive treatment in Lahore.
Witness heard multiple gunshots at Khan’s vehicle.
Footage run on several television channels shows that Khan was injured and moved to a car with the help of other people present at the site. The footages show a bandage tied around Khan’s leg. Khan is said to be out of danger.
Several people, including PTI leader Faisal Javed, were also injured in the firing.
Khan was leading a protest march to the capital, Islamabad, demanding snap elections.
A man suspected of firing shots at the rally was detained, said police, which added that the male suspect was arrested with a 9mm pistol and two empty magazines.
A short video leaked to media shows the purported shooter confessing to an attempt on the life of Khan.
To questioning by an unseen police officer, the young man is heard asserting he was alone in this act, unsupported by anybody. He appears to be under the impression his attempt has succeeded.
The man, apparently around 30 years of age, claims he resolved to kill the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) because the latter was misguiding the people. He also tries to give his act a religious twist by saying the procession was playing music even as a prayer call was on.
“I tried to kill him. I really tried to kill him, just and only Imran Khan and no one else,” the man said in the video. “It was my sudden decision… No one is behind me, and no one was with me. I was acting alone, and no one came with me.”
Senior party leader and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail told Dawn television that party chief Imran Khan was shot in the leg “three to four” times. “The attacker was directly in front of the container and was wielding a AK-47.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who came to power after Khan lost a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April, condemned the attack on his political rival.
“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words,” Sharif wrote on twitter. He has asked for an “immediate report on the incident” and will pray for the recovery of those injured.
“Violence should have no place in our country’s politics.”
In a statement to local broadcasters by Asad Umar, a senior leader of Khan’s party, said prime minister, interior minister and a senior Pakistani intelligence official were behind the attack.
“Khan demands that these three people shall be removed from their offices,” Umar said. “If they were not sacked, a nationwide protest will be held. We will not allow Pakistan to be run like this. Our protest will continue until these three people are sacked.”
The media watchdog has stopped television channels from airing Umar’s video wherein he has named three suspects.
“Broadcasting of such content is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquility or endangers national security,” the watchdog said.
“…hereby prohibits broadcast and re-broadcast of such statements being circulated on social media by PTI leaders which are unsubstantiated, vilifying, and cast aspersions against state institutions, with immediate effect”.
Meanwhile, protests broke out across Pakistan in support of Khan, including in the capital Islamabad as well as in Peshawar, where approximately hundreds of protesters gathered, blocking roads for around two hours while holding party flags and chanting slogans against the army and the government.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah called the allegations baseless. “They don’t have any evidence and are only making these false accusations for their political interests.”
“Remember, you can also become the target of that hate… Please stop this, it will only invite more violence.”
Pakistan has a grim history of political violence. In 2007, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by a suicide bomber at an election rally.
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