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.