Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Imran Khan wounded in ‘assassination attempt’ in Pakistan

Imran Khan wounded in ‘assassination attempt’ in Pakistan


Imran Khan wounded in ‘assassination attempt’ in Pakistan

Protesters have taken to the streets of Pakistan after a gunman opened fire on a convoy carrying the former prime minister Imran Khan, wounding him and killing a supporter as he led a march on Islamabad to demand snap elections.

A party aide said Khan, 70, had been wounded in his lower leg and was stable after an incident described by his supporters as an assassination attempt. "A man opened fire with an automatic weapon. Several people are wounded. Imran Khan is also injured," said Asad Umar shortly after the shooting.

The identity of the gunman, who was arrested at the scene, was not immediately known. Footage circulated online of a dishevelled man in apparent police custody with his hands tied behind his back claiming he intended to kill Khan. Video from the scene shows a gunman being taken down by another man as he tries to fire his gun, reportedly a 9mm automatic weapon, at Khan. In the panic the crowd start dispersing and some people chase and catch the attacker.

Protests erupted across Pakistan in the wake of the shooting, blocking main roads across the country and leading to massive traffic jams in many cities including the capital, Islamabad. Khan's aides said there would be further protests on Friday.

The attack happened in the Wazirabad district in the east of Punjab province, where the former international cricket star's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is in power. The former prime minister was travelling in a large convoy of lorries and cars heading towards Islamabad as part of his campaign aimed at forcing the government to hold early elections that could see him return to office.

Faisal Javed, a senator from Khan's party who was injured in the incident, talked to local media with blood on his shirt. "One political worker has been killed and some political aides are injured including Imran Khan. He is out of danger and we pray for him," he said.

Punjab police confirmed that seven people had been injured and one person, identified as Muazzam Nawaz, had been killed.

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