New Delhi: Following the failed “assassination attempt” on him, former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has alleged that three people, including current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were involved in the attack.
Khan’s allegations were shared by a senior leader of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Asad Umar, in a video statement late on Thursday. Apart from Sharif, Khan holds interior minister Rana Sanaullah and top ISI Genral Faisal Naseer responsible for the attack.
Khan was shot in the shin earlier on Thursday when his anti-government protest convoy came under attack in Allahwala Chowk in Wazirabad, a city in eastern Pakistan.
Faisal Sultan, the former assistant to the prime minister on health, told media persons outside the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore that Khan’s condition was stable but that x-rays revealed bullet fragments in his leg and a “chip” on his shin bone.
Since being ousted in April this year through a parliamentary vote, Khan has been rallying the opposition around the country through such protests, demanding snap elections.
Also read: Pakistan: Led by Imran Khan, Hundreds Set Out on March to Islamabad to Demand Snap Elections
In a statement, the Punjab police said that seven people were injured in the attack and one killed. Others injured in the attack included senator Faisal Javed and PTI leader Ahmad Chattha. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“Imran Khan called us and told us to convey this message to the nation on his behalf…He said that he believes three people – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Sanaullah and Major General Faisal (Naseer) – were involved in the attack on him,” news agency PTI quoted Umar as saying.
He added that the former prime minister has sought for these three individuals to be immediately removed from their positions, warning of protests “across the country” if this is not done, according to Umar.
Further, Sheikh Rashid, former interior minister and Khan’s close aide, blamed the Shehbaz Sharif administration for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to kill the former premier.
“The federal government hatched a conspiracy to kill Imran Khan. Hired assassin Rana Sanaullah and the federal government has brought the country at the brink of civil war. It can’t stand before the sea of people as it has to go home,” Rashid said.
Sanaullah, however, rejected the allegations, saying the federal government was ready to provide every kind of support in the investigation.
Addressing a press conference, Sanaullah rejected the allegations made by Khan and said not only Prime Minister Sharif but also PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and other leaders have condemned this attack and this kind of thinking.
He said that the federal government was ready to provide every kind of support for the investigation of this attack and also demanded that the Punjab government should set up a joint investigation team of senior officers to probe the incident.
Pakistan President Arif Alvi also condemned the attack, describing it as “shocking, alarming, disgraceful, deceitful & cowardly”.
Khan’s attacker was arrested by the police on Thursday and in a video statement, he said that he was trying to kill the former premier because he was “misleading the public”.
The suspect also noted that he only wanted to kill Khan and not any of the other PTI leaders.
However, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, said police officers and other officials were suspended for leaking the suspected attacker’s confessional video statement.
Elahi directed the inspector general (IG) of the Punjab police to take disciplinary action against the police officers responsible and as such, the station house officer (SHO) of the concerned police station, as well as other officials, were suspended.
The chief minister said in a statement that all mobile phones of the police station’s staffers were confiscated and they will be sent for a forensic audit.
Elahi issued directives to hold an inquiry into the incident of the video leak of the suspected attacker. He directed IG, Punjab to begin a probe to ascertain the motives of the gun attack.
Widespread condemnation of attack
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that the attack on Khan must be unequivocally condemned. “All political parties have the right to hold peaceful assemblies and to expect security from the state when doing so,” it said in a statement.
The attack on Khan’s life was condemned by US secretary of state Anthony Blinken on Thursday, noting that “violence has no place in politics” and averring his commitment to a “democratic and peaceful Pakistan”.
“The United States strongly condemns the shooting of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and others at a political rally. We wish Imran Khan and all others who were injured a quick and thorough recovery, and we offer our condolences to the family of the individual who was killed,” Blinken said.
The White House echoed Blinken’s sentiments, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “The United States strongly condemns the attack on Imran Khan and his supporters and hopes for the swift recovery of all who were injured.”
“Violence has no place in politics. We call on all parties to remain peaceful and refrain from violence,” she said.
(With PTI inputs)