Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan injured in firing during political rally
The attack happened less than a week after Khan began his march from Lahore with thousands of supporters. (AP Photo)
Former Pakistan Prime Imran Khan sustained bullet injuries in his leg during a shooting incident in Gujranwala on Thursday (November 3).
What happened: Unidentified assailants opened fire on a container-mounted-truck carrying Imran Khan during his political rally. PTI chief Faisal Javed and Ahmed Chattha were also injured in the attack.
“It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding,” Fawad Chaudhry, a spokesperson for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Reuters.
Party leader Shahbaz Gill said that "Imran Khan is our red line and an attempt has been made to cross that red line," reported Pakistan's Geo News.
Condition stable: "He is in a stable condition," Raoof Hasan, a senior Khan aide told AFP, adding: "This was an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him." Imran Khan has reached Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore.
Gunman arrested: The identity of the gunman, who was arrested at the scene, was not immediately known. No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting, reported the AP.
The rally: The attack happened less than a week after Khan began his march from Lahore with thousands of supporters. Khan had alleged that his ouster was a conspiracy engineered Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the United States.
Khan had planned to lead the motorised caravan slowly northwards up the Grand Trunk Road to Islamabad, drawing more support along the way before entering the capital, reported Reuters.