PTI chief Imran Khan said on Friday that he had prior information that an attempt would be made on his life in what was his first public appearance after surviving the assassination in Wazirabad a day earlier.

“I knew a day before (Thursday) that I’d be targeted either in Wazirabad or Gujrat,” said Imran while wearing scrubs and heavily bandaged legs, with his right leg in a cast and resting on a chair as he addressed media in Lahore.

Imran Khan reiterated that a US under-secretary had threatened the Pakistani envoy during the PTI government to remove him from his office, otherwise, the country would face severe consequences. He alleged that the consciences of the lawmakers were auctioned to make the no-confidence motion successful.

He said that the incumbent coalition government thought that the nation would hold celebrations after his ouster from Prime Minister’s Office. “The outcomes were totally different as the nation held massive protests against my ouster.”

“We held several rallies with record attendance,” the former premier said adding that a large number of participants joined the PTI long march on May 25.

He said that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf gave NRO to the politicians during his tenure who later looted the national exchequer for 10 years.

He said that the corruption cases against the leaders of PPP and PML-N were registered during the past ten years, adding that they had been given the NRO-2 on the cases those were not registered during PTI’s tenure.

He said that they used the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to disqualify him and the coalition government tried to technically knockout him. “They attempted to disqualify me in the prohibited funding case and later in the Toshakhana case.”

“I was disqualified on Nawaz Sharif’s orders,” he said and added the PML-N supremo was involved in corruption worth billions of rupees while Ishaq Dar’s affidavit is also present.

Taking a jibe at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the former premier said the ECP had opposed the EVMs.

“A plan was in place to kill me like former Punjab governor Salman Taseer,” Imran Khan said, adding that three people planned to assassinate him. “How can investigation be carried out until these three people don’t resign?”

Speaking about the Punjab by-election the PTI chief said that it was a world record that a member of a National Assembly won eight seats.

He said that the political rivals were shocked after PTI won the majority of seats during Punjab by-polls.

“They start threatening our people after Punjab by-polls,” the PTI chief said adding that journalists who were raising PTI’s voice were threatened.

“People voted for me because they were fed up with them,” Imran Khan said, adding, that the coalition government was shocked that the people did not go along with those stealing for the past 40 years.

The PTI chairman urged the party workers to continue staging protests against those who were involved in a plan to assassinate him unless they resigned. “I will continue the long march towards Islamabad after regaining health.”

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers protested at various thoroughfares and intersections of Karachi including the Shahra-e-Faisal, the main artery that runs through the city.

It resulted in massive traffic jams, with people stuck for several hours at multiple points.

PTI workers started gathering at the Insaf House, located on Shahrah Faisal, before spilling over on to the artery with the stated purpose of going towards Metropole, in the city’s high-security zone where the Chief Minister’s House, the Governor’s House as well as provincial legislature is located.

A heavy contigent of police was deployed at various points, including police in riot geat at Shahrah-e-Faisal to deter protesters from entering the high-security zone.

It led to a confrontation with PTI workers, with law-enforcement resorting to shelling to disperse them.

It resulted in massive logjams on either side of Shahra-e-Faisal on multiple points including the Metropole end, near the FTC flyover, and at the Baloch Colony diversion.

Police was able to clear the protesters and ensure smooth supply of traffic by the evening.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded the immediate removal of the Inspector General (IG) Punjab from his post saying that the performance of IG Punjab was disappointing.

“Nation will be taken into confidence regarding the conspiracy against the PTI chief,” PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said in a statement, adding that as per initial reports there was more than one armed attacker.

Fawad speaking in a press conference said that the meeting of senior PTI leadership was held in which doctors had briefed the participants on the party chairman Imran Khan’s medical condition.

He said that attempts have been made to turn the heinous incident into a religious tragedy, adding that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan would address the nation (today) and will take the people into confidence. He said that Imran Khan will announce further strategies.

Police arrested on Friday two suspects for supplying weapons to the prime suspect, identified as Naveed, in the failed assassination attempt on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan during the Azadi March in Wazirabad a day earlier.

Police sources said that the accused, identified as Waqas and Sajid Butt, provided Naveed the firearm used in the shooting.

Both accused were arrested from Wazirabad on information provided by Naveed.

Sources within the police said that Naveed paid Rs20,000 for the pistol and bullets. They added that the gun had it’s serial number scraped off and is unlicensed.

Earlier, suspect Naveed’s recorded confessional statements given to the police was leaked to the media in which he had claimed that he was acting alone. “I came here on my own on a motorbike, which I parked at my uncle’s showroom nearby.”

Activists and supporters of PTI have started protesting in different parts of the country against the assassination attempt on party chief Imran Khan that left him with a gunshot wound to the leg.

PTI leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry earlier in the day had called for countrywide protests against the attack.

“Until Imran Khan’s demand is met, the countrywide protest will continue,” he said in a tweet on Friday.

Karachi

Supporters started gathering outside the Insaf House at 3pm. They were chanting slogans for freedom.

Protesters and the police were facing each other when the PTI supporters gathered at the Shahrah-e-Faisal to block the street. The police blocked the FTC track to stop the protesters.

The police fired tear gas shells at the protesters to distract them while 15 protester, including women, have been arrested. PTI MPA Raja Azhar was injured during the stampede after the police baton charged the protesters.

Meanwhile, the PTI workers have announced to stage their protest in front of Bilawal House.

The police distracted the protesters at Shahrah-e-Faisal and traffic has been restored.

“In order to express solidarity with party chief Imran Khan we will record a peaceful protest in Karachi,” Bilal Ghaffar said in a video statement. He warned against making mischief as the party could give a shutter down call in the economic hub of the country.

Islamabad

A video uploaded by the PTI Islamabad chapter showed that their supporters, who were protesting at the Muree Road, Faizabad, Rawalpindi, were distracted after the police fired tears gas shells at them.

The Insaf Student Federation, Islamabad organized a protest walk at the Islamic International University, Islamabad.

“A large number of students participated and demanded that the demands of PTI Chairman Imran Khan be fulfilled immediately,” said a PTI tweet.

Lahore

PTI supporters were protesting at Shahdara Chowk and Begum Kot Chowk in Lahore, according to updates by 4pm. The roads were blocked due to demonstration.

Citizens were being diverted to alternate routes, Dr Asad, the chief traffic officer, said and advised the citizens to avoid non-essential travel.

PTI supporters were protesting in front of Governor House Lahore and attempted to climb the main gate of Governor House. The protesters set the tires on fire and block the road chanting slogans against the coalition government.

Gujrat

A large number of PTI workers gathered at Gujrat’s Shaheen Chowk and blocked the by-pass. The protesters set tires on fire.

Mansehra

A group of PTI supporters led by MNA Salah Muhammad Khan was protesting at the Expressway.

Another group of protesters led by Special Assistant to Chief Minister Syed Ahmed Shah was protesting at Shahrah Kaghan. Protesters burnt tires and blocked the highway at Chinarkot.

Meanwhile, lawyers in Mansehra also boycotted the court proceedings in protest.

Swat

A large number of PTI supporters were protesting at Nishat Chowk Mingora.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Friday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was himself to blame for the attempt on his life as he ignored threats and failed to take the security situation seriously.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the country’s security head said it was irresponsible of the PTI leadership to make allegations without any supporting evidence. In a widely shared media post, first by PTI Asad Umar and later the PTI Twitter account posted a message from Imran Khan naming three individuals, including PM Shehbaz Sharif and the interior minister.

“The accusations are baseless. Such things should not have been said without any proof whatsoever,” the minister said.

He added that the main takeaway from Asad Umar’s statement was that Imran Khan did not seem to be taking his security seriously. He said that Umar’s statement made it clear that the PTI chairman had ignored threats to continue the long march.

“We have no problem with the long march entering Islamabad, nor did we aim to stop it. Our concern was with stopping about incidents.”

Sanaullah said the alleged attacker had made some serious and disconcerting allegations against the PTI chairman in the ‘confession’ that was leaked on media.

In one of his statements, the alleged shooter, identified as Naveed, said that he attacked Imran Khan because the PTI chief’s statements had hurt his religious sentiments. “It was unbearable for me,” the shooter said.

In the first ‘confessional’ statement, recorded in a police station and also leaked to the media, the shooter says that he attacked the container because music was being played during the azaan (the call to prayer). Rana Sanaullah said that it was ‘a good thing’ that the shooter’s statement has been recorded and seen by people.

Responding to a question about whether PML-N leaders would visit Imran Khan in hospital, the minister said that Nawaz Sharif visited Imran when he was injured in 2013. “If the environment permits it, party leaders will visit him again. But it is difficult, now that they have blamed us,” Rana Sanaullah said.

Imran Khan is still hospitalised but stable according to reports. Investigations are underway with Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department also being engaged.

PTI chief Imran Khan, who got injured in an assassination attempt on Thursday, would address the nation today (Friday), the party said.

The former PM, who was expected to address the nation at 4pm, would address the nation at 6pm.

Imran presided over the consultative meeting of the party at the Shaukat Khanum hospital in Lahore. The senior party leadership was also present. The meeting has ended and the party leadership is expected to brief media about the decisions in a while.

Sources told Aaj News that the party would make a decision on the next course of the long march. They added party leaders have briefed Imran on the developments after the attack on him.

The attack on his convoy, apparently by a lone gunman, killed one man and wounded at least 10 others, significantly raising the stakes in the political crisis gripping the country since Imran’s ousting in April.

Imran “was stable and he was doing fine” at Shaukat Khanum hospital in the eastern city of Lahore, his doctor Faisal Sultan told AFP Friday morning.

The assassination attempt on PTI chief Imran Khan should not be politicised and the coalition government stands with them in seeking justice for it, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday.

“We need that those who are protecting people behind this should be arrested,” he said, lamenting that Pakistan lost two former prime ministers in assassination bids – Liaquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto – and the country has not gotten “answers” of such incidents.

Imran, the former prime minister, was shot and injured on Thursday evening when a suspect standing in front of the PTI container carrying the party chief and other senior leaders reached Wazirabad during the ‘Azadi March’. At least one person was killed and 14 others, including Senator Faisal Javed and PTI Punjab leader Ahmed Chattha, were injured in the attack.

The prime suspect in the assassination attempt on Imran Khan said that he was only targeting the PTI leader. “Imran Khan is misleading people. I only tried to kill Imran Khan,” he can be heard saying in a video statement - given to the police - which is circulating on social media.

“If there is any conspiracy behind it then it should be brought to light and we should not hesitate from taking steps that could be helpful to us. If the inquiry into it or going into depth all this issue is politicised then this incident like in the past which have been buried and no progress was made. Today, also we are also a victim of rumours. There are many such incidents in our history.”

He spoke about the video of the prime suspect. Asif was of the view that the former prime minister through his speeches in the past has “reached a level or crossed a limit” which was considered to “redline of the religion” in society. The defence minister added that such speeches fanaticized the suspect.

But, he wondered about the decision to suspend the staff of the police station, under whose vicinity the incident happened, for a video leak rather than the incident itself. “This is being sabotaged at the initial level to gain political benefits and politcise it,” he said while expressing concerns over the Punjab CM’s decision to shift the suspect in his area.

So far, Asif said that four people have been killed in this long march from Lahore to Gujranwala and all incidents were linked to the container-laden truck of Imran.

He quoted Imran’s tweet in which the former premier claimed that a revolution was taking over the country.

“For 6 months I have been witnessing a revolution taking over the country. Only question is will it be a soft one through the ballot box or a destructive one through bloodshed?” Imran said in a tweet on October 31.

Asif stressed the need not to make this incident a “victim of politics”. The suspects must be traced. He alleged that the PTI was “not interested” in it while reacting to the three names the former ruling party gave as suspects.

“But taking the name of politicians and a senior officer of the army… this issue is being headed towards a matter where there will be no clue for anything.”

He added that more than 120 million Pakistanis were on social media and people was relying it more than the conventional media.

“Imran had himself given warnings by giving politicizing it. That it will happen. And, IB officially informed the Punjab government on October 28 that there will be some incident in this vicinity [Wazirabad] against you [Imran],” Asif said, “they had been warned against it. I am thinking that this incident is being used to make political gains by taking such names as suspects.”

Two hours before an attempt was made on his life, Sky News’ Cordelia Lynch asked Imran Khan, “Does it worry you, the prospect of violence?”

In response, Khan seemed to take a deep breath before he answered. “I’m confident, and I’ve been on the roads for six months now, I’m confident I will be able to direct it through elections and bring about a change,” he said.

“The other possibility is…” Khan paused in reflection, “you would not want it to go in the other way.”

From Khan’s words, Sky News concluded that Khan “insisted he was hopeful there would not be violence on his Long March.”

The interview would be his last recording before his long march container came under fire in Wazirabad. One person’s death was confirmed, as multiple PTI leaders, Imran Khan included, were reported to be injured.

He was rushed to a hospital in Lahore after the assassination attempt where doctors said he was stable after surgery on his injured leg.

The incident happened on Day 7 of the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ led by the former prime minister, who hopes to force early elections in the country. Videos showed Khan atop his container, waving to protestors, before the sound of gunshots that set the chaos in the crowd.

Investigations on the incident are continuing, with Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department taking the lead.

Imran Khan also told the foreign correspondent that he hoped to have a government that is truly in control of the country based on a decisive majority in the election. “If you are strong enough in a parliamentary democracy with a clear majority, only then can you implement rule of law, which I could not do before.”

LAHORE/WAZIRABAD: The container that led PTI’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ has been sealed and is still located at the site of yesterday’s shooting. Ex-PM Imran Khan was standing atop the container when he survived an assassination attempt in Wazirabad.

Muzzafar Zaidi reported on Aaj News that the container had progressed 70–80 meters after the shooting but had been brought back to the site of the incident after the shooting. Eleven cartridges have been recovered by investigating teams from the site of the incident.

The case had been handed over to the Counter Terrorism Department.

According to Aaj’s Ateeq Malik, the alleged shooter, Naveed, has also been handed over to CTD custody and moved to the department’s headquarter in Lahore for investigation. The case for the incident will be registered in the City Police Station in Wazirabad or in the CTD station.

At least one person was killed and 14 injured including PTI chief Imran Khan, and party leaders Faisal Javed Khan and Ahmed Chatha when shots were fired at the long march containers. Imran Khan was immediately rushed to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore, where doctors said that bulled shards had injured his leg. A confessional video of the alleged shooter had soon made rounds on social media and TV.

Late on Thursday night, CM Punjab Parvez Elahi tweeted that he had ordered IG Police to constitute a high-powered JIT to investigate the incident. He said that the team will include members of the CTD as well. Elahi also added that there seemed to be more than one shooter involved.

The CM also said that he wants the investigation to get to the root of the matter: who was behind the incident, who had trained the shooter and funded him, and where was he brought from.

In a video posted right after meeting Imran Khan in the hospital, Elahi said that he had suspended the entire police station where the confessional statement of the alleged shooter had been recorded. He also said that the officials’ phones had been sent for a forensic analysis to find out who recorded the statement.

Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah had asked the Punjab government to set-up a JIT for the investigation at a press conference a few hours after the incident. He also said that the government condemned the incident and assured that the investigators would be provided any support they might need.

More developments after shooter’s arrest

Naveed, the alleged shooter, has made more revelations in police custody after the two confessional videos posted earlier. He said that the firearm used in the shooting was given to him by two people named Waqas and Sajid Butt. Both have now been arrested.

Naveed said that he paid the accomplices Rs 20,000. According to police the weapon is unlicensed and does not have a serial number. He also bought 46 bullets with the weapon. Naveed said that Imran Khan was his sole target. He reached the site of the attack through Bypass Road. He tried to climb on top of a mosque’s roof but was unsuccessful. He then succeeded in getting within 20 feet of the container and pressed the trigger. He fired eight bullets, while a ninth got stuck in the gun’s chamber.

He said that the man chasing, later identified as Moazzam Gondal, him was killed by bullets fired from the top of the container. In response the police summoned the arms used by the guards deputed for the security of the march. These weapons, along with the bullet recovered from the deceased’s body will be sent for analysis.

Aaj’s Ghazanfar reported that Naveed is a drug addict. Fifteen members of the accused’s family have been arrested and are currently being questioned.

FIR still not registered

DPO Gujrat told reporters that the FIR for the Wazirabad shooting was yet to be registered. He added that the FIR could only be registered the affected party approached the police themselves. The FIR can alos be adjusted on the government’s instructions, but no such directives have been issued yet.

He also said that the main accused was immediately arrested by police and Elite Force officials but his family is still being investigated. He said that footage from multiple sources will be used to ascertain if another shooter was involved. The DPO also said that the shooter’s phone will be sent for a forensic analysis.

The PTI would stage countrywide protests after Friday prayers, party leader Asad Umar said in a tweet. The announcement comes after an assassination attempt on party chief Imran Khan.

“Until Imran Khan’s demand is met, the countrywide protest will continue,” he said in a tweet on Friday. The former prime minister, since his ouster from the office via vote of no-confidence in April, has been demanding of the government to announce snap elections.

The long march from Lahore to Islamabad has been started with the same purpose and the PTI’s petition regarding permission for a sit-in and rally in Islamabad is pending.

The PTI meeting in the wake of the attack on Imran is scheduled to meet later in the day. Fawad said PTI officials would meet later Friday to discuss the immediate fate of Imran’s campaign march, but vowed it would continue.

“The real freedom long march will continue and the movement for people’s rights will remain until an announcement on the general elections,” he tweeted.

Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has stressed the need for early elections in the country.

WAZIRABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan was recovering in hospital on Friday after an assassination attempt that left him with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The attack on his convoy, apparently by a lone gunman, killed one man and wounded at least 10 others, significantly raising the stakes in political crisis gripping the country since Imran’s ousting in April.

Imran “was stable and he was doing fine” at Shaukat Khanum hospital in the eastern city of Lahore, his doctor Faisal Sultan told AFP Friday morning.

The 70-year-old former international cricket star had been leading a campaign convoy of thousands since last week from Lahore to Islamabad when he was attacked.

Imran escaped with at least one bullet wound to his right leg when a gunmen sprayed pistol fire at his modified container truck as it slowly drove through a thick crowd in Wazirabad, around 170 kilometres (100 miles) east of Islamabad.

“Everyone who was standing in the very front row got hit,” former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was standing behind Imran, told AFP.

Senior aide Raoof Hasan told AFP it was “an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him”.

Several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have blamed the government for the assassination attempt, which the authorities have denied.

Fawad said PTI officials would meet later Friday to discuss the immediate fate of Imran’s campaign march, but vowed it would continue.

“The real freedom long march will continue and the movement for people’s rights will remain until an announcement on the general elections,” he tweeted.

https://www.aajenglish.tv/live/azadi-march-nov4-2022

The United States administration has “strongly condemned” the shooting of PTI chief Imran Khan and others at a political rally on Thursday. The assassination attempt on Imran’s life shocked the whole nation.

“We wish Imran Khan and all others who were injured a quick and thorough recovery, and we offer our condolences to the family of the individual who was killed,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement issued by the State Department.

Imran, the former prime minister, was shot and injured on Thursday evening when a suspect standing in front of the PTI container carrying the party chief and other senior leaders reached Wazirabad during the ‘Azadi March’. At least one person was killed and 14 others, including Senator Faisal Javed and PTI Punjab leader Ahmed Chattha, were injured in the attack.

The prime suspect in the assassination attempt on Imran Khan said that he was only targeting the PTI leader. “Imran Khan is misleading people. I only tried to kill Imran Khan,” he can be heard saying in a video statement - given to the police - which is circulating on social media.

Blinken said that violence has no place in politics, and the US administration called on all parties to refrain from “violence, harassment, and intimidation”. “The United States is deeply committed to a democratic and peaceful Pakistan, and we stand with the Pakistani people,” he said.

Many people were hailing the “saviour” who grappled the shooter. Videos showed a young PTI worker grappling with the shooter, forcing him to raise the gun in the air. The shooter struggled to get free as people around them fled the scene. The shooter in his attempt to flee had fired a bullet that hit a man, videos show.

India ‘keeping close eye on Pakistan developments’

The Indian foreign ministry has said it was “closely following” the developments in Pakistan.

“As I was coming for the briefing, we have seen this report, these are developments right now and we will keep an eye on it and right now I have nothing more to say on this. This is actually a development that just took place as I was coming to this briefing,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affiars, said while responding to a query during a press briefing on Thursday.

“This is something that we are closely keeping an eye on, and we’ll continue to monitor the ongoing developments. But I don’t have anything beyond that to say because it’s just a developing story.”

Global leaders condemn attack on Imran

Global leaders and friendly nations have condemned the assassination attempt on Imran.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned “in the strongest terms” the firing of the PTI chairman, Imran Khan, at a political rally in Gujranwala, and called for a transparent investigation into the incident.

“The secretary-general is concerned about reports that former prime minister Imran Khan of Pakistan and several other people were wounded today during a rally,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in response to a question at the regular noon briefing in New York on Thursday.

“The secretary general wishes Mr Khan and others injured a full recovery and calls for a full investigation into this violence and for bringing to justice the perpetrators,” he said, “We very much hope that this (incident) will not create further challenges to the political situation in Pakistan.”

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack and wished speedy recovery to Imran and others.

Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia said that the kingdom was standing with the country and its people against all threats to its security.

“The Kingdom’s support for all efforts aimed at eliminating violence, extremism, and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while wishing the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its brotherly people safety, stability and prosperity.”