Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was attacked during his long march on Thursday, when an unidentified gunman opened fire on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman near the Allah Ho Chowk in Wazirabad, reported local media.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed that Imran Khan was shot in the leg in a targeted attack during the long march in Wazirabad today.
In an interview with Aaj TV immediately after the incident, he said that three people were injured in the attack, including Senator Faisal Javed and Ahmad Chattha.
PTI leader Imran Ismail has said that party chief Imran Khan has been shot in the leg "three to four" times. Speaking to Bol TV, he said that he was next to Imran when the attack occurred.
Stating that the attacker appeared right in front of the container that Imran Khan was standing on, Ismail went on to add that the assailant wielded an Kalashnikov rifle.
In addition, DawnNewsTV reported that PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed was injured in firing near party chief Imran Khan’s container.
Reports suggest one person died in the firing while 9 others suffered injuries.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a bitter political opponent of Imran's and a frequent target of ridicule by PTI supporters, who allege that he runs an 'imported government' took to Twitter to condemn the attack.
"I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident," the Pakistani Premier wrote.
"Violence should have no place in our country's politics," he added.
Meanwhile, journalist Hamid Mir took to Twitter to release what he said were details of the shooter.
Meanwhile, Punjab's Chief Minister Parvez Elahi, taking notice of the firing incident in Wazirabad, instructed the provincial IGP to submit a report after thorough investigation.
“Those behind this incident will be brought to justice soon and the injured will be provided the best medical care,” the chief minister said.
The country’s ousted prime minister and former cricket star has launched a week-long march through Pakistan’s Punjab province to the capital Islamabad, hoping to stir up enough people and bring them out on the streets in order to topple the government of rival Shehbaz Sharif and force early elections, which Imran is confidently to win, were it to happen.
“For six months I have been witnessing a revolution taking over the country,” Khan wrote earlier this week, referring to the crowds that have turned out to support him.
“Only question is will it be a soft one through the ballot box or a destructive one through bloodshed?”
This so-called 'long march' is the latest in Khan’s efforts to stage what is seen to be an unlikely political comeback. Since his removal as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in April, Khan’s support has soared as his populist messaging strikes a chord at a time of painful inflation.
However, he has made a powerful enemy, in the form of the country's security establishment, and the Pakistan's notorious spy agency, the ISI, in particular.
PTI leader Shireen Mazari has said that the “string pullers and the establishment will be held responsible by the nation for this murderous attack on Imran Khan”. 'Stringpullers' and 'establishment' are euphemisms used in Pakistan to refer to the country's military.
In a tweet after unknown assailants opened fire on Imran’s container in Wazirabad today, she called for Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to be arrested.
This is a developing story
