Imran Khan attacked: Imran Khan on Thursday sustained bullet injury on his leg when a gunman opened fire on the container-mounted-truck carrying him during his protest march, killing one person, but the former Pakistan prime minister was out of danger in what his party claimed was an "assassination attempt." The incident occurred near Allahwala Chowk of Wazirabad town in Punjab when 70-year-old Khan was leading the long march to Islamabad demanding early elections. In a statement, the Punjab police said that seven people were injured and one person was killed during the attack on Khan. It added that a suspect has been taken into custody. Asad Umar, the senior leader of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told the media that a bullet hit Khan's leg. He, however, didn't blame anyone for the attack.
Key developments:
- Imran Khan underwent surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, his party leader Omar Ayub Khan said. Senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Khan is out of danger now. He added that the "attack was not just on Imran Khan but on the Pakistani nation."
- Imran Khan has accused Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Army Major Faisal for attack on him.
- Reports said protests post attack was turning violent at many places but the situation was getting dangerous in Peshawar.
- Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the attack on Khan was a "well-planned assassination attempt”.
- "It was not 9mm [pistol], it was burst from an automatic weapon, no two opinions about that it was a narrow escape,” he tweeted.
- One of the attackers who opened fire said he wanted to kill Imran Khan because he was misleading people. The second attacker however was able to escape the scene. READ MORE
- Geo TV reported that the attacker was identified as Naved. The attacker, in his early 20s and wearing salwar-kameez, had been walking along the container and fired from the left side, the channel said.
- Senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill said that "Imran Khan is our red line and an attempt has been made to cross that red line." He said that Khan will fight till his last breath.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed the Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident.
- The Pakistan Army has issued a statement condemning the attack on Khan.
WATCH: Moment when Imran Khan was shot by gunman during rally in Pakistan's Wazirabad
ALSO READ | Imran Khan accuses Shehbaz Sharif, Army Major General Faisal, among 3 people for attack at his rally
