Imran Khan was injured and one of his supporters was killed when a gunman opened fire at a campaign lorry carrying Pakistan’s former prime minister. Mr Khan was struck in the leg and avoided serious injury, according to party official Asad Umar.
An arrest was made at the scene, but the identity of the gunman was not immediately known. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack happened in the Wazirabad district in the eastern Punjab province, where Mr Khan was travelling in a large convoy of trucks and cars heading towards the capital Islamabad, police said. He is campaigning in an attempt to force the government to hold early elections.
The shooting underscored the growing political instability in Pakistan, with both the government and Mr Khan refusing to back down from their positions. The country’s powerful military said although Mr Khan had a democratic right to hold a rally in Islamabad, no one will be allowed to destabilise the country.
Authorities in Islamabad had already deployed additional security around the city to deter any clashes or violence. The motives of the attacker were unknown and it was unclear whether the shooting was an attempt on Mr Khan’s life.
A video posted to Twitter by journalist Wajahat Kazmi appears to show the convoy moving slowly down a busy street before several shots are fired. Mr Khan, a former cricket star turned Islamist politician, was later seen with a bandage on his right leg, just above the foot, according to reports and a blurry image.
He was moved to another vehicle from his container truck, from which announcements were made that he is safe. According to the Interior Ministry, the government has ordered an investigation.
A number of supporters from Mr Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party were also hurt, according to the announcement from the party. The attack happened less than a week after Mr Khan began his march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, along with thousands of supporters.
Since his ousting in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April, Mr Khan has alleged it was a conspiracy engineered by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the United States — claims both the new premier and Washington have denied. Mr Sharif’s government said there will be no early vote and the next election will be held in 2023, according to schedule.
