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Video: Pakistan's Imran Khan shot in leg during long march; suspect admits he wanted to 'kill him'

One was reportedly killed and 'several' others were injured

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Screengrab from a video taken after the attack and shared on social media

By Web Desk

Published: Thu 3 Nov 2022, 3:44 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Nov 2022, 7:47 PM

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was shot in the shin on Thursday when his long march convoy came under attack in the east of the country, according to aides and members of his political party.

Several of their colleagues were also injured amid reports that one had been killed, another member of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said. "A man opened fire with an automatic weapon. Several people are wounded. Imran Khan is also injured," Asad Umar told Reuters.

In purported footage of the shooting, being run by multiple channels, a man with a handgun is grabbed from behind by one of the people at the gathering. He then tries to flee.

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TV channels showed a man they said was a suspected shooter, who looked to be in his 20s or 30s. He said he wanted to kill Khan and had acted alone.

"He (Khan) was misleading the people, and I couldn't bear it," the suspect said in the video. The information minister confirmed the footage was recorded by the police.

No one has yet been charged with the attack.

In this video shared on Twitter, Khan and his colleagues are seen ducking for cover as gunshots rang out:

Khan was taken to a hospital after the attack, which happened in the Wazirabad district in the eastern Punjab province.

The political leader was travelling in a large convoy of trucks and cars heading towards the capital, Islamabad, as part of his campaign aimed at forcing the government to hold early elections.

He was later seen with a bandage on his foot. He was moved to another vehicle from his container truck, from where announcements were being made that he was safe.

On his official Instagram feed, Khan posted a video that shows a number of supporters helping him board the other vehicle:

In another footage taken from a different angle, he is seen limping:

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the firing incident. Here's what he said in a tweet:

Sharif added that the government will extend all support for the investigation into the incident. "Violence should have no place in our country's politics," he said.

The attack happened less than a week after Khan began his march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, along with thousands of supporters.

Pakistan's President Arif Alvi also called the incident "a heinous assassination attempt", as he sought immediate reports from the authorities.

The Indian Foreign Ministry is also keeping a close eye on developments related to the incident, according to its spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai stressed that violence is "never an acceptable protest".

"Attacks on leaders of any political belief or party are always wrong...Wishing Imran Khan a full recovery," she said.

Khan was booted from office in April by a no-confidence vote after defections by some of his coalition partners, but he retains mass public support in the South Asian country.

The former international cricket star was voted into power in 2018 on an anti-corruption platform by an electorate tired of dynastic politics.

Since his ouster, he has railed against the establishment and prime minister Sharif's government, which he says was imposed on Pakistan by a "conspiracy" involving the US.

Khan has repeatedly told supporters he was prepared to die for the country, and aides have long warned of unspecified threats made on his life.

(With input from agencies)

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Web Desk

Published: Thu 3 Nov 2022, 3:44 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Nov 2022, 7:47 PM

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