Imran Khan to continue march to Islamabad after being shot in the leg in ‘assassination attempt’

Former Pakistani prime minister Mr Khan was discharged from hospital on Sunday after ‘assassination attempt’
PAKISTAN-POLITICS-KHAN-SHOT
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan
AFP via Getty Images
William Mata6 November 2022

Imran Khan will resume his protest march to Islamabad on Tuesday after being wounded by a gunshot in an apparent attempt on his life.

The former Pakistani prime minister took bullet wounds to his right leg in Wazirabad when taking part in his march to the capital city on Thursday.

On Sunday, he sat in a wheelchair, his right leg bandaged and elevated, as he gave his message of continuation from Shaukat Khanum hospital. He was discharged from the hospital later on Sunday.

In the address, he repeated his demand for an investigation into the shooting and the resignation of three powerful figures in the government and the military whom he alleges were involved in staging the attack on him.

Mr Khan's march on the capital was suspended after a gunman opened fire, wounding him and killing one of his supporters. Thirteen others were hurt. Mr Khan said the march would pick up again from Wazirabad.

Mr Khan was ousted from office in April in a no-confidence vote in parliament. He organised a march on Islamabad to pressure Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government to hold early elections but Sharif says elections will take place as scheduled, in 2023.

Mr Khan led an initial protest march in May but it ended when supporters clashed with police in the capital.

The latest protest march, which started on October 28, was peaceful until Thursday's attack. The shooting has raised concerns about growing political instability in Pakistan, which has a history of political violence and assassinations.

Mr Khan said the march will take 10 to 15 days to reach Rawalpindi, where convoys from other parts of the country are expected to join the rally.

Mr Khan accused prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and army general Faisal Naseer of working with the inter-services intelligence, Pakistan's spy agency, to orchestrate the shooting. The minister and the former premier are not related.

Mr Khan offered no evidence for his allegations, which were rejected by Mr Sharif's government and the military spokesman said the allegations were not true.

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