Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been reportedly injured in a firing incident near his container during a long march he was carrying out to protest against the ruling government and Pakistan Army.
The incident took place when the ‘Haqeeqi March’ convoy entered Wazirabad.
Following the firing, there was a stampede and everyone including the PTI leaders on the container convoy panicked.
At the time of the firing, the convoy had reached Zafarali Khan Chowk, as per local media.
Imran Khan was reportedly injured as shots were fired near his long march container convoy.
There are reports of seven PTI leaders getting injured in the firing incident. Those injured in the firing were immediately shifted to the hospital in ambulances.
Faisal Javed Khan, a Senator of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was covered in blood because of the injuries sustained during the firing incident, said he was injured in the “assassination attempt” on Imran Khan.
PTI secretary general Asad Umar said Imran Khan was shifted to Lahore after the firing incident.
“Imran Khan is being shifted to Lahore for medical treatment,”
said Asad Umar.
The Videos and pictures viral on social media show no sign of a bullet injury to Imran Khan. However, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed that Imran Khan was shot in the leg in a targeted attack during the long march in Wazirabad today.
In another video, Imran Khan can be seen limping but with no blood on his shoes or pyjama (trousers).
Pakistan-based Senior Journalist Hafeez Chachar told The Australia Today, “It is just a claim by PTI leaders that Imran Khan was shot in the leg.”
“We have not seen any concrete proof of him being shot, doctors should have issued a statement by now but that is also not being released.”
At least two people who were at the container at the time of the attack have privately said that Imran Khan was not shot but twisted his ankle/knee while ducking from bullets.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought a report from Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah about the incident. He also directed the Interior Minister to get a report from the Punjab Chief Secretary and IGP Punjab.
After the shooting incident, India on Thursday said it is keeping a close eye on the ongoing developments.
“It’s a development that just took place. We’re closely keeping an eye on it and we’ll continue to monitor ongoing developments,”
said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The suspect caught by police for carrying out gunfire during PTI long march has said he wanted to kill PTI chairman Imran Khan because “he was misleading the public,” media reports said.
When the police asked why he committed the crime, the shooter said,
“Imran Khan was misleading people and I could not tolerate it so I tried to kill him. I tried my best to kill him. I tried killing only Imran Khan and no one else.”
“I thought of this as there was Azaan going on and on the other side, Imran Khan is taking out his container and making noise. My conscience did not approve of this. I decided this suddenly… I conspired against Imran Khan from the day he kicked off his long march from Lahore. I made up my mind that I will not leave him alive,” as per a video of the shooter shared on social media.
Responding to whether there was someone else in the conspiracy, the shooter said, “I have conspired this alone and no one else is involved in this. I came on a bike and I parked it at my uncle’s shop. He has a motorcycle showroom.”
The Punjab police have confirmed that seven people were injured and a person was killed in the firing incident.
As per the police, the deceased has been identified as Muazzam Nawaz.
The person who intercepted the shooter is now hailed as a hero in Pakistan.
Here is a talk with Pakistan’s Senior Journalist Hafeez Chachar and The Australia Today’s Editor Amit Sarwal, Pallavi Jain and Jai Bharadwaj
