Shehbaz Sharif, the Ex-Prime Minister and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government after a shot death on Thursday
Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in the foot at a rally Thursday, according to an official from his party, which said the incident was an assassination attempt.
The rally site outside of Gujranwala was taken by the former Pakistan cricket captain to be treated for his injuries. Some people were injured by gunfire. The extent of the other injuries is not yet known.
After losing a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April, Shehbaz Sharif became the leader of the government.
“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words,” Sharif wrote, adding that he has asked for an “immediate report on the incident” and will pray for the recovery of those injured.
The ECP recommended on October 21 that Khan be disqualified from holding office for five years, a move likely to further inflame political tensions in the country.
The commission said its decision was based on the grounds that Khan had “made false statements” regarding the declaration of the sale of gifts sent to him by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Dubai while in office – an offense that is illegal under the country’s constitution.
When asked about suggestions from his critics that accusing the current government of perpetrating the attack would help Khan get back into office, he replied that he doesn’t “need any reason to accuse this government for me to get back into power,” adding that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party remains popular since his ousting in April.
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His claims have struck a chord with a young population in a country where anti-American sentiment runs high, and anti-establishment feelings are being fueled by a rising cost of living crisis.
Yousaf Raza Gillani, the current Prime Minister, survived an assassination attempt in 2008 as did former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated in 2007.
Khan stated that they took out three bullets from his right leg in an interview with CNN. The left had some shrapnel which they’ve left inside.”
He said that he had information that the shooting that injured him last week would happen.
The Pakistan intelligence agency claimed that it had warned Khan of the threat prior to the rally. The Punjab provincial government was told about the threat against the former prime minister by the organization, ISI said in a statement.
The ISI said that the provincial government of Punjab is in charge of Khan’s security.
The shooting of a senior intelligence official killed in a Pakistani military base is a blasphemy hate crime and it is an offense against civilians
They are in that speech as the events unfolded. How this would happen, how in the name of blasphemy a religious fanatic would kill me and they would blame it on him. All this is in my speech which I put on television – it’s on social media,” he said in reference to a speech he made on September 24, in which he said he outlined how the events of the shooting would transpire.
One person died in Thursday’s attack which injured several others, while Khan was taken to a hospital for treatment after the shooting. Speaking from the hospital on Friday, and without offering evidence, Khan blamed Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, interior minister Rana Sanaullah and Maj. Gen. Faisal, who is a senior intelligence official. CNN is talking to the three men.
Pakistan army is an extremely professional and Disciplined organisation with a robust and highly effective internal accountability system applicable across the board for unlawful acts, if any, committed by uniformed personnel, according to a statement.
“However, if the honour, safety and prestige of its rank and file is being tarnished by vested interests through frivolous allegations, the institution will jealousy safeguard its officers and soldiers no matter what,” it continued.