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.”