Supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan take part in a protest a day after the attack
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was on Friday said to be in a stable condition after being shot and wounded during a protest march.
Mr Khan’s protest march and rallies were peaceful until Thursday afternoon’s attack, raising concerns about growing political instability in Pakistan, a country with a history of political violence and assassinations.
One of Mr Khan’s supporters was killed and 13 others, including two legislators, were wounded in the attack.
“There is no doubt about it,” said Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Mr Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
“We are convinced that it was a well-planned assassination attempt on Pakistan’s most popular leader Imran Khan, who is now in stable condition at the Shaukat Khanum hospital in Lahore after undergoing surgery there.”
He said the party leadership was meeting in Lahore later on Friday.
“We will announce today exactly when our march will resume from Wazirabad,” Mr Chaudhry told The Associated Press.
He provided no further details, but Mr Khan’s party in a brief statement urged supporters to hold nationwide rallies to condemn the shooting.
The apparent assassination has sparked condemnation from the international community.
Video footage shows Mr Khan standing at the front of an open-top container truck during a protest march near Gujranwala to demand snap elections when a gunman fires at the politician with an automatic pistol.
As the sound of bullets filled the air, the former international cricketer tried to take cover but was hit in the leg.
The news we dread…
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) November 3, 2022
Thank God he’s okay. And thank you from his sons to the heroic man in the crowd who tackled the gunman. https://t.co/DGoxlJGwxb
His team quickly surrounded him as people in the crowd screamed. Footage shows the gunman firing shots at Mr Khan. A second man tries to wrestle the gun from the would-be assassin, who was attempting to escape.
The gunman was arrested at the scene. Police later released a video of him in custody, allegedly confessing to the shooting and saying that he acted alone.
Opposition politicians in Pakistan have been quick to condemn the attack. President Arif Alvi called it a “heinous assassination attempt” while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordering an immediate investigation.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for calm, saying: “Violence has no place in politics, and we call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment and intimidation.”
Hours after the attack, the UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said: “Shocking attack on Imran Khan in Pakistan which has left one person dead. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also expressed concerns for his well-being, saying: “My prayers are with Imran Khan and the people of Pakistan at this extremely distressing time.”
Omar Ayub Khan, a senior leader of the ex-PM’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party, tweeted that Mr Khan underwent surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore.
Mr Khan’s ex-wife, British socialite and screenwriter Jemima Goldsmith, tweeted a picture of the man who wrestled the gunman, hailing him as a “hero”.
Miss Goldsmith, who has two sons with Mr Khan, said: “The news we dread. Thank God he’s okay. And thank you from his sons to the heroic man in the crowd who tackled the gunman.”
