Thu 03 November 2022:
Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, has sustained a bullet injury in his leg after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Wazirabad.
Azhar Mashwani, an official with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Thursday that the politician was shot in the leg but was not in danger. Six others, including another politician, Faisal Javed Khan, were also reportedly injured in the attack.
Khan, who had been leading a protest march to the capital, Islamabad, demanding snap elections, was taken to a hospital in Lahore.
The identity of the gunman, who was arrested by police at the scene, was not immediately clear. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Footage on local media showed Khan with a bandaged leg moving from his truck to another vehicle with the help of his security team.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement condemning the incident and asked authorities to immediately launch an investigation.
Khan began his long march on October 28 from Lahore and is expected to reach Islamabad on November 11.
His government was removed in April this year through a parliamentary vote of no confidence. Since then, Khan has been holding rallies across the country, demanding early elections.
Suspect says he tried killing Imran because he was ‘misleading the people’
The sole suspect caught by police has said that he wanted to kill PTI Chairman Imran Khan because “he was misleading the public.”
“He (Imran) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it so I killed him … attempted to kill him,” the suspect said in a video statement.“
“I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill Imran Khan only and no one else.”
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) November 3, 2022
PM seeks immediate report on incident
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan “in the strongest words”.
“I have directed [the] interior minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of [the] PTI chairman and other injured people.”
He said the federal government would extend all support necessary to the Punjab government for security and investigation. “Violence should have no place in our country’s politics.”
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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