Overthrown by a no-confidence motion in April, Imran Khan has been leading a “long march” on the capital, Islamabad, since Friday to secure early elections.
Article written by
Posted on 11/3/2022 3:49 PM Updated on 11/3/2022 4:01 PM
Reading time: 1 min
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was in stable condition after he was shot in the foot on the sidelines of a political rally on Thursday (3 November). The former cricket champion was injured after gunfire erupted in the crowd near the town of Gujranwala, one of his close advisers, Raoof Hasan, told AFP.
The shots were aimed at Imran Khan and other officials of his party who were standing near Gujranwala on a container that was on top of a truck moving slowly in the middle of the crowd. One attacker was shot dead and another arrested by police, Raoof Hasan said.
In a tweet, Pakistani President Arif Alvi denounced a “heinous attempted assassination”. For decades, Pakistan has grappled with violent Islamist movements that challenge the influence of the central power, and political assassinations have marred the country’s history.
Despite his fall in April 2022, Imran Khan continues to enjoy broad popular support. Since April, he has held large rallies across the country, attended by tens of thousands of supporters, to put pressure on the fragile governing coalition.