Imran Khan Came Face‑to‑Face With an Attempted Shooting
In a scene straight out of a political thriller, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was fired at while marching toward Islamabad on November 3. The protest convoy was hit by gunfire in Wazirabad—about 200 km east of the capital—turning his rally into an unexpected safety drama.
What Happened?
- Imran, standing on the roof of a truck and waving to cheering crowds, got peppered in the shin.
- Several supporters in his convoy were wounded; the hospital reported bullet fragments in Khan’s leg.
- A suspect was quickly taken into custody, and police have yet to release full details.
Immediate Reactions
Fawad Chaudhry, spokesperson for PTI, called it a “clear assassination attempt” and warned that if the shooter had not been stopped, the entire party leadership could have been wiped out. On the other side, Faisal Sultan, the medical officer, reassured that Khan was stable after the test scans.
Allegations Against Government Officials
Talented aide Asad Umar claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and intelligence chief Major‑General Faisal Naseer were involved. However, no evidence has been presented.
Sanaullah, in a joint statement with Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, denied the accusations and demanded an independent high‑powered investigation.
Military’s Stance
The military’s media wing described the shooting as “highly condemnable.” It’s worth noting that Khan has previously accused the army of orchestrating his ousting, a claim the military vehemently denied during a recent press conference.
Local Backlash and Investigation
Punjab’s chief minister, Pervaiz Elahi, announced a joint investigative team focusing on the two possible assailants. Witness Qazzafi Butt recounted the chaos: “I heard shells burst, saw Khan and his aides stumble on the truck, then one gunman fired a single shot before being tackled.”
Suspect Footage
Unverified video circulated, allegedly captured by police, shows a young gunman (mid‑20s to early‑30s) bragging about wanting “to kill Khan” and standing alone in the chaos. The footage reportedly ends with the suspect being pulled by a party activist.
Why the Anger?
With Khan removed from office and facing allegations of misappropriating state gifts, his supporters felt betrayed by what they believed was a political vendetta. Now, the attempted shooting has stirred fears of an even deeper plot to silence a prominent opposition voice.
Conclusion
Imran Khan is reportedly fine, but the incident underlines the volatile mix of politics and security in Pakistan. It remains clear that whatever the truth, the country’s leaders are poised for a deeper dive into the murky corridors of power.
We’ll keep you posted as the investigation unfolds and more details come to light.
Protesters on streets
Handsome and charismatic, Khan first grabbed international attention as a cricketer in the early 1970s.
First known as an aggressive fast-paced bowler with a distinctive leaping action, he went on to become one of the world’s best all-rounders and a hero in cricket-mad Pakistan, captaining a team of wayward stars with bleak prospects to one-day World Cup victory in 1992.
His first wife, Jemima Goldsmith, who lives in Britain, expressed relief that Khan was not in danger on Twitter.
“The news we dread… Thank God he’s okay,” she wrote. “And thank you from his sons to the heroic man in the crowd who tackled the gunman.”
Pakistan has a long history of political violence. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007 in a gun and bomb attack after holding an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi, next to Islamabad.
Her father and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in the same city in 1979 after being deposed in a military coup.
Local media on Thursday showed footage of Khan waving to the crowd after being evacuated from his vehicle after the shooting as people ran and shouted.
He was taken to hospital as protesters poured out on to streets in some parts of the country and PTI leaders demanded justice.
PTI colleague Faisal Javed, who was also wounded and had blood stains on his clothes, told Geo TV from the hospital: “Several of our colleagues are wounded. We heard that one of them is dead.”
Since being ousted, Khan has held rallies across Pakistan, stirring opposition against a government that is struggling to bring the economy out of the crisis that Khan’s administration left it in.
He had planned to lead the motorised caravan slowly north up the Grand Trunk Road to Islamabad, drawing more support along the way before entering the capital.
ALSO READ: Pakistan arrest militant suspect in deadly bombing of Chinese nationals
pakistanImran Khangun crimesprime ministerPolitics
