Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was shot in the leg at a rally in Wazirabad on Thursday. Here are the details.
What happened?
Khan was shot in the right shin on Thursday at 4:21 p.m. local time (11:21 GMT), when his anti-government protest motorcade was attacked. His life was not in danger. A total of 14 people were injured, doctors said. One of Khan’s supporters died from bullet wounds. “This is not just an assassination attempt on Imran Khan, but an attack on Pakistan itself,” aide Fawad Chaudhry said on Twitter. Khan was taken to a hospital in Lahore after the attack. A doctor said there were bullet fragments in his leg and his tibia bone was chipped. Earlier, videos circulating on social media showed him greeting the crowd after being evacuated from his vehicle.
Imran Khan was shot in the leg but was stable while being taken to hospital. He also resigned from the supporters. #Imran_Khan_is_our_red_line pic.twitter.com/XizoAQzPax — PTI (@PTIofficial) November 3, 2022
That happened?
The attack took place in Wazirabad, nearly 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Islamabad. Last week, Khan led a protest march in Islamabad to demand early elections.
Why did it happen?
The identity of the gunman, who was arrested by police, was not immediately clear. No group has claimed responsibility. Television channels showed a man they said was the suspected shooter, who appeared to be in his twenties or thirties. He said he wanted to kill Khan and had acted alone. “He [Khan] he was misleading people and I couldn’t stand it,” the suspect said in the video. The Information Minister confirmed that the video was recorded by the police.
What is the larger context?
Khan’s government was ousted in April this year by a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Since then, Khan has been holding rallies across the country, demanding early elections. The parliamentary move put him among a long list of elected Pakistani prime ministers who failed to see out their full term – none since independence in 1947. In response, Khan began his “Long March” on 28 October from Lahore. The march was expected to reach Islamabad on November 11. Analysts said Khan’s firing underscored growing political instability in Pakistan, with the government and the former leader refusing to back down. “The question that is being asked again and again is if we are a parliamentary system and if it is going to be a civilian government, then let the electoral process continue, let the country go to general elections,” said Asad Rahim Khan. political analyst based in Lahore. “And what we’re seeing in terms of the loss of public faith, I’m afraid will be exacerbated by today’s assassination attempt,” he added. Al Jazeera’s Pakistan correspondent Abid Hussain said: “While Khan himself has hinted at bloodshed during his long run, this attack reflects growing discontent in the country. “It will only increase pressure on the government, which has been accused by the PTI of wanting to remove Khan by any means necessary. “Khan himself has said many times in recent months that his life is in danger,” he added.
The sea of people along our route on the GT road. For 6 months now I have been a witness to a revolution taking over the country. The only question is, will it be gentle through the ballot box or devastating through bloodshed? pic.twitter.com/CeVdRVp9ON — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 31, 2022
What happened to the intruder?
Information Minister Murriyam Aurangzeb said police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene. An inquiry was conducted, he added. Police have also cordoned off the scene for a forensic investigation to be carried out.
What’s the latest on the ground?
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, writing from Islamabad, said “significant anger” was growing in the streets after Imran Khan was shot. “We are getting preliminary reports of protesters blocking roads, burning tires and this could escalate into something big,” he added. Arifa Noor, a political analyst in Pakistan, expressed her surprise at the attack. “No one expected that it would be like this, that a former prime minister would be shot at, given that, just in 2007, we lost a very popular leader through this kind of violence,” Noor told Al Jazeera. “Right now, there is an immediate reaction from the supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and it is an aggressive reaction. But we hope that once the leadership recovers from the shock … they will try to keep their supporters calm and prevent the kind of violence that erupted in Pakistan when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007.”
What were the reactions?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement condemning the incident and asked authorities to immediately launch an investigation.
The federal government will extend all necessary support to the Punjab government for security and research. Violence should have no place in our country’s politics. 2/2 — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 3, 2022
The military also denounced the shooting. “Sincere prayers for the precious life lost and speedy recovery and well being of PTI Chairman Mr. Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident,” it said in a statement. “We strongly condemn the heinous assassination attempt against the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, the brave @ImranKhanPTI,” Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi tweeted.
Heinous assassination attempt on brave @ImranKhanPTI Thanks to Allah he is safe but injured with few bullets in leg and hope not critical. This attack is shocking, disturbing, shameful, fraudulent and cowardly. May Allah grant him health and all the injured. – Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) November 3, 2022
“It’s a development that just happened. We are closely monitoring and will continue to monitor current developments,” said Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi. Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram said he was deeply disturbed while calling on the country to stand united.
Deeply disturbed by the events unfolding in Wazirabad. Our prayers are with Imran BHAI and everyone there. We as a country must unite and not allow anyone to distort our national unity. — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) November 3, 2022
First wife Jemima Goldsmith expressed relief at the news that Khan survived the incident. “The news we dread… Thank God it’s good,” Goldsmith, who lives in Britain, tweeted. “And thanks from his sons to the heroic man in the crowd who confronted the gunman.”
Hero 🙏🏼🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/mqTXPdWxjH — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) November 3, 2022
Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai says violence should never be acceptable.
Attacking leaders of any political persuasion or party is always wrong. And violence is never an acceptable protest. I wish @ImranKhanPTI a full recovery. — Malala (@Malala) November 3, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the attack on Khan and his supporters was “totally unacceptable”.
The attack on @ImranKhanPTI and his supporters is completely unacceptable and I strongly condemn this violence. It has no place in politics, in any democracy or in our society. I wish Imran and all those injured today a speedy recovery. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 3, 2022
