Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan survives assassination attempt at Wazirabad rally

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan survived an alleged assassination attempt on Thursday after an armed man opened fire during a party rally near the Allah Ho Chowk in Wazirabad, killing one person.

Khan sustained bullet injuries on his leg, but is out of danger. The 70-year-old leader was taken to Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore where he underwent a surgery.

At least seven people, including top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Javed, have also been injured in the gunfire attack which took place on the seventh day of the anti-government march that Khan had launched in Lahore on October 28.

The cricketer-turned-politician was standing and waving to thousands of cheering supporters from the roof of a container truck when the gunman, identified as Naveed Mohammad Bashir, sprayed bullets from a close range. He has been taken into custody.

The attacker, in his early 20s and wearing salwar-kameez, had been walking along the container and fired from the left side, reported Geo TV.

"It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit but he's stable. There was a lot of bleeding," PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry told Reuters.

Soon after the attack, a video statement of the attacker emerged on the Internet, in which he was heard saying that he wanted to kill Khan because the PTI leader was “misleading the public”.

"He (Khan) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it so I attempted to kill him,” the Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying.

PTI leader Faisal Javed, who was injured in the firing, waits to receive first aid | AP

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the shooting and ordered interior minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate investigation. Shehbaz postponed his scheduled press conference on his recent trip to China in light of the attack.

President Arif Alvi termed the attack on Khan as a "heinous assassination attempt".

"I thank Allah that he is safe but injured with few bullets in his leg & hopefully non-critical. This attack is shocking, alarming, disgraceful, deceitful & cowardly. May Allah give him health & to all those injured," tweeted Alvi, who belonged to Khan's party before assuming presidency.

The Pakistan Army has also issued a statement condemning the attack. "Firing incident during Long March near Gujranwala is highly condemnable. Sincere prayers for precious life lost and speedy recovery and well being of Chairman PTI Mr Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident," it said.

Khan had accused the military of backing the plan to oust him from power. The military, however, has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, protests erupted in different cities with supporters of Khan blocking roads and chanting slogans against the government. PTI workers also staged protest outside Sanaullah's residence in Rawalpindi.

Imran Khan's supporters stage a protest in Karachi | AP

In a tweet soon after the attack, PTI leader Shireen Mazari demanded the arrest of Sanaullah. “The string pullers and the establishment will be held responsible by the nation for this murderous attack on Imran Khan,” she said.

Khan's protest procession was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on November 4, but PTI leader Asad Umar said that the convoy would reach the capital only on November 11.

The former PM leader was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, had earlier talked about a 'threat letter' from the US and claimed that it was part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy. The US has bluntly rejected the allegations.