Imran Khan escapes assassination attempt in Pakistan. Why was he shot at?
Former Pak PM Imran Khan is out of danger after being shot at. Photo: AFP
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot at during a rally on November 3. Khan sustained injuries to his right leg and was rushed to a hospital. His party, PTI has said that the leader is currently stable and out of danger. The shootings at the rally killed one person, a PTI party worker.
The incident has brought back the grim memories of Pakistan's assassination attempts on state leaders, current and former.
PTI's reaction: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders citing Imran Khan have made grave accusations against the current Pakistan government.
- They've accused the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the country's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and top ISI general Maj Gen Faisal of trying to assassinate Khan.
What Imran Khan said: The Former Pakistan PM said that God has given him a second life during his first appearance after the attack.
What really transpired during Khan's rally? There are three videos that tell a brief story of what happened:
1. The first shows an armed man being tackled by another man in a crowd. The armed man has been arrested.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was injured in firing during his long march in the Wazirabad area of southeastern Punjab province https://t.co/8Rwsk21LsW pic.twitter.com/Wg46abPQZG
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) November 3, 2022
2. The Punjab Police also released a confessional video of the alleged shooter who claimed to have acted on his own.
انتہائی افسوس کی بات ہے کہ پنجاب پولیس کی حراست میں موجود اس ملزم سے بار بار مختلف بیانات ریکارڈ کروا کر سوشل میڈیا پر پھیلائے جا رہے ہیں وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب اس سلسلے کو بند کرائیں https://t.co/NcAhtDdVJJ
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) November 4, 2022
3. And a third video reportedly suggests there may have been a second shooter who's not captured on camera. Reports say there is a possibility of the second shooter having an automatic rifle. Some PTI leaders have claimed there was a man with an AK-47 who also fired shots.
The actual footage of firing at the time of assassination attempt on Imran Khan in long march near Wazirabad.. it can be heard clearly that fire opened on #ImranKhan wasn't shot by a 9mm pistol rather it was a burst of an auto gun.#AssassinationAttempt pic.twitter.com/o05Gy2f080
— Khurram Zubair (@Khurram__z) November 3, 2022
On the other hand, a few police officers in Punjab province have been suspended by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for leaking the confessional video.
Where did it happen? The shooting took place during Khan's rally, the "biggest freedom movement" in Wazirabad. The rally was headed towards Islamabad.
- Imran Khan is holding the rally to pressure the government to hold elections immediately.
- The rally also comes days after the Pakistan EC banned the former cricket player from holding any public office for the next 5 years on charges of corruption.
- Imran Khan was removed as the Prime Minister of Pakistan a few months ago after he lost the confidence motion in the assembly. Since then, he's launched a scathing criticism of the government and Pakistan's military and ISI.
- Khan was also once called a puppet of the powerful army in Pakistan, which seems to hold the main power behind a democratic civilian government.
What next? Protests by Imran Khan's supporters and PTI party members are expected. Whether it will spiral into widespread violence giving the military an excuse to step in or not remains to be seen.
On the other hand, Pakistan's interior ministry has ordered an investigation into the assassination attempt and Imran Khan has left Wazirabad for Lahore.
Imran Khan before leaving Wazirabad for Lahore.
— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) November 3, 2022
His body language very clear... Will continue to challenge the establishment in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/yvqWyFcsnM