Cricket legend and former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan shot in alleged assassination attempt
Imran Khan has been shot and wounded in an alleged assassination attempt.
The cricket legend and former Pakistan prime minister was attending a political rally in Wazirabad when a gunman reportedly opened fire at people in an open-top vehicle.
According to Newscorp, at least four others were wounded and one person has been confirmed as dead.
Scary footage emerged of the incident and you clearly see a gunman taking aim at their selected targets – 70-year-old Khan being one of them.
More videos then surfaced online showing panicking people running from the scene, while others attended to the injured.
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In one clip, Khan can be seen being carried away by onlookers before being rushed to a local hospital.
It's understood Khan, who retired from cricket back in early 90s, was shot in his shin and is expected to make a full recovery.
WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE BELOW.
Footage of the firing. Assassination attempt on Imran Khan. pic.twitter.com/fmSgI2E8jc
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) November 3, 2022
Footage from the container when Imran Khan shot on his leg. pic.twitter.com/rE3CyMoTdP
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) November 3, 2022
BREAKING: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan shot in leg during shooting in his Long March rally, rushed to hospital
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 3, 2022
pic.twitter.com/MG0UOcwiPH
PTI needs to remember shaheed Mouazam Gondal the guy whose three kids were trying to check on him helplessly when he got fired by the assassin. He died stoping the shooter. Party needs to tend to these kids and their future. We Will not forgive you general Faisal Naseer.#ISPR pic.twitter.com/D4lSlsnekV
— Naya_Pakistan (@sohail_khan092) November 3, 2022
“He is in a stable condition,” Khan's senior aide Raoof Hasan told AFP.
“This was an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him.”
As for the gunman, he was apprehended on the scene and subsequently arrested.
“(Khan) was misleading the people, and I couldn’t bear it so I attempted to kill him,” the man reportedly said.
“I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill Imran Khan only and no one else”
Shocked and saddened by news that Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was injured following a shooting incident. I wish him well and a speedy recovery. Violence in all forms is totally wrong and unacceptable, no matter what our differences may be. #imrankhaninjured
— Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) November 3, 2022
Allah is kind! Failed assassination attempt on Imran Khan has created a new consciousness & new balance of power! Regime Changers & plotters have failed, this crimimal act was their final act of desperation! Time for all Pakistan to unite against these criminals, crooks & thugs!
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) November 3, 2022
Pakistan will never get another courageous, honest and trustworthy leader like Imran Khan again. May Allah protect his life, and give him the strength to keep fighting injustice! ❤️🙏
— Zaid Ali (@Za1d) November 3, 2022
Strongly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May he stay safe & get well soon. Aameen 🤲🏼
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) November 3, 2022
Highly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. My prayers for the health and speedy recovery of all the injured people and deceased. May Allah SWT protect Pakistan, Ameen.
— Fakhar Zaman (@FakharZamanLive) November 3, 2022
Strongly condemn this heinous attack on @ImranKhanPTI. May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan, Ameen.
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) November 3, 2022
In new footage posted by Al Jazeera, one brave member of the public appears to wrestle the gunman in a bid to stop the shooting spree.
“He loaded the magazine and was preparing to fire. I approached him when he shot one bullet in the air,” local hero Ibtisam told the media.
“I pulled at him, which caused his aim to go awry. He then tried to run away, but people went after him and we managed to stop him.”
BREAKING: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan shot in assassination attempt. Reports he was hit several times in his legs but survived & now being treated in hospital. Shooter was wrestled by another man as he fired, which may have saved Khan’s life. pic.twitter.com/rJbOhju01h
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 3, 2022
When news broke of the attack, fans and politicians alike flocked to social media to have their say.
Pakistani president Arif Alvi spoke on the incident, calling it a “heinous assassination attempt”.
Khan is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers Pakistan has ever produced.
He played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs between 1971 and 1992 before going on to become his country's prime minister from 2018 until 2022.
Max Sherry