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.
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 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.”
