‘Shots fired’ near convoy of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was shot and wounded on Thursday in Wazirabad in what is believed to be an assassination attempt, according to reports.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed that Mr Khan suffered an injury to his leg in the attack during a protest march to Islamabad to demand snap elections.

Mr Chaudhry said at least three people were injured, including politicians Faisal Javed and Ahmad Chattha.

Footage on several Pakistani television showed an injured Mr Khan with a bandage on his leg as he was being taken to a hospital.

Pakistani media also showed videos of a gunman being taken down by another man as the gunman tried to fire his weapon at Mr Khan’s container.

Mr Khan is leading a massive anti-government “long march” to Islamabad to demand a snap election after his ouster in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April.

The firing took place in the Wazirabad district in the eastern Punjab province when Mr Khan was travelling in a large convoy of trucks and cars.

A senior member of the party told Pakistan’s Geo TV: “This was an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him.”

A male suspect has been arrested. A probe has been ordered into the incident, according to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry.

“He [Mr Khan] is being taken to a hospital in Lahore, but he is not seriously wounded. A bullet hit him in the leg,” Asad Umar, a PTI member told reporters.

Mr Khan’s party has called it an assassination attempt.

Addressing the huge rally of the agitated crowd after the attack, Mr Chaudhry took charge and announced that Mr Khan’s party “will take the revenge” for the assassination attempt.

“The attack on Imran Khan is an attack on Pakistan. We will take the revenge,” said Mr Chaudhry.

Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and ordered an immediate report on the incident.

“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of PTI chairman & other injured people,” Mr Sharif said.

Indian foreign ministry said Delhi was closely monitoring the developments.

“It’s a development that just took place. We’re closely keeping an eye on and we’ll continue to monitor ongoing developments,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

The shooting underscored the growing political turmoil in Islamabad, with both the government and Mr Khan locked in battle for power.

Michael Kugelman, the deputy director of the Asia Programme at the Wilson Center, said: “As horrible as this attack was, it appears it could have been much, much worse if not for the bravery of the man who intervened.”

This is not the first time an alleged assassination attempt was made on a senior Pakistani leader. The country’s former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was shot dead on 27 December, 2007. A year later, then-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani survived an assassination attempt.

It comes as Pakistan’s election commission disqualified Mr Khan from holding public office in a verdict last month for allegedly selling state gifts unlawfully and concealing assets as premier, a case Mr Khan has dismissed for being politically motivated.

Mr Khan, who has challenged the disqualification in a pending court case, said he would sue chief election commissioner Sikandara Raja, who was behind the decision, for calling him a “dishonest person”.