Pakistan’s former prime minister and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan, and four others were shot in his rally.
The five were injured on Thursday after his political convoy was shot at in the eastern Punjab region and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in an assassination attempt. Reports he was hit several times in his legs but survived and is now being treated in hospital. The shooter was scuffled by another man as he fired, which may have saved Khan’s life.
Images are shared of the attack
The hero who saved the life of #ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/4hgASYhZgq
— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) November 3, 2022
The PTI Secretary General Asad Umar told the media that an unknown gunman opened fire at an open container in the Wazirabad area where Imran Khan was standing along with other political leaders to lead a rally.
Umar added that the former prime minister got a bullet injury in his leg and had been shifted to a local hospital for treatment, adding that his condition was out of danger, according to Dawn.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of and “severely condemned” the firing incident at Imran Khan’s long march container in Wazirabad. He has instructed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report on the incident from the IGP and chief secretary Punjab, according to a tweet from the Government of Pakistan’s official Twitter account.
The others wounded included a senator and two regional political leaders, Umar added. Police have reportedly arrested two suspects after the shooting. No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. Police personnel have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
The shots were fired in the Wazirabad district in the eastern Punjab province. The alleged “assassination” bid happened when Imran Khan was traveling in a large convoy of trucks and cars heading towards the capital, Islamabad, as part of his campaign aimed at forcing the government to hold early elections.
Imran Khan was later seen with a bandage on his foot. Soon after the attack, Imran Khan was moved to another vehicle from his container truck, from where announcements were being made that he was safe.
Senator Faisal Javed Khan was also injured in the attack. A video of him covered in blood is being circulated on social media.
The attack happened less than a week after Khan began his march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, along with thousands of supporters. Since his ouster in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April, Khan has alleged that his ouster was a conspiracy engineered by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the United States — claims that both the new premier and Washington have denied.
Khan’s popularity was growing tremendously with the streets of Pakistan filled with thousands of his supporters perhaps his enemies did not like it:
The streets of Pakistan are filled with Imran Khan supporters, as the former PM marches toward Islamabad. THE MARCH IS GATHERING STEAM. Take a look:pic.twitter.com/GSQMeq4D40
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) November 1, 2022
Sami Hamdi writes, “Shahbaz Gil tortured. Arshad Sharif killed. #ImranKhan shot.
All this reflects the increasingly dark and desperate efforts to absolutely prevent #Pakistan’s people from democratically (and emphatically) delivering Imran Khan and PTI back to power…”
Shahbaz Gil tortured. Arshad Sharif killed. #ImranKhan shot.
All this reflects the increasingly dark and desperate efforts to absolutely prevent #Pakistan's people from democratically (and emphatically) delivering Imran Khan and PTI back to power…
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون pic.twitter.com/qhwh2LVSII
— Sami Hamdi سامي الهاشمي الحامدي (@SALHACHIMI) November 3, 2022
 Imran Khan, and four others were shot in his rally.){kind=link}