Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan survived an assassination attempt on Day 7 of the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Long March’ and is currently undergoing medical treatment in Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore.
Imran’s container came under attack as it moved through Punjab’s Wazirabad town. He sustained a bullet wound to the leg while other party leaders and supporters were also injured in the attack – reportedly carried out by a lone gunman.
Party leader Fawad Chaudhry said it was a ‘targeted attack’. Speaking to a private news channel, he said three people were injured in the attack, including Ahmad Chattha and Faisal Javed.
عمران خان اس وقت آپریشن تھیٹر میں ہیں اللہ ان کی حفاظت کرے، کل سینئر لیڈرشپ کا اجلاس لاہور میں طلب کیا گیا ہے، #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ جاری رہے گا اور جب تک عام انتخابات کا اعلان نہیں کیا جاتا عوام کے حقوق کی یہ تحریک جاری رہے گی۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 3, 2022
Imran will not back down, says Elahi
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, after visiting Imran in hospital, said Imran was doing well and he is determined “not to back down”.
Elahi said he has asked the provincial IG to form a JIT “at our level” to determine “who all are behind this attack and who are involved in training him [alleged attacker]”.
PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar suspects top brass of government behind the attack.
In a video message, Umar said that Khan believes three people are behind the assassination attempt on him — Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior military officer.
عمران خان نے اپنے اوپر حملے کا الزام شہباز شریف ، رانا ثناءاللہ اور میجر جنرل فیصل پر عائد کر دیا۔ اسد عمر کا عمران خان کی طرف سے بیان جاری pic.twitter.com/MNKwaZYa1C
— Bashir Chaudhary (@Bashirchaudhry) November 3, 2022
“Khan has said that he had the information beforehand that these people might be involved in the assassination attempt on him,” Umar said during a video statement alongside party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal.
PTI chief was injured after a man opened fire at him in Gujranwala near the party’s reception camp, sending the nearby participants of the long march into a panic.
The former prime minister sustained injuries on his leg and has been shifted to a hospital for treatment, Geo News reported, however, the location is unknown for safety concerns.
Asad, quoting the PTI chairman, demanded that all three people — the premier, the interior minister, and the senior military officer — should be removed from their offices.
The PTI leader added that Khan has warned that if these officials are not removed from their officers, then the party would hold countrywide protests as Pakistan cannot run in this manner anymore.
“If the demands are not met, then all the party’s workers are awaiting Khan’s call, and when he does give that call, then protests will take place across the country.”
Umar said that he spoke to the doctors — including Dr Faisal Sultan — about Khan’s situation and they have informed him that his condition is stable and out of danger.
“The doctors said that bullets hit him and at this time, it is unclear as to how many they were. Three or two pellets are still lodged in his leg. The bullet also chipped his bone. The CT scan is also clear.”
“Khan is ready to sacrifice his life for the nation. There should be no doubt about it now. He is fine, but he says that we should always believe in Allah,” Umar said.