Former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan claimed that he knew in advance that an attempt would be made on his life and blamed an establishment plot for the recent shooting, while speaking from hospital in Lahore on Friday.
“I was informed a day prior of going to the march that either they planned that they will attempt my murder in Wazirabad or Gujrat,” he alleged.
“I want an investigation …into (intelligence officer) General Faisal, Interior Minister (Rana) Sanaullah, and the third Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for my attempted murder. But I ask, how will investigations take place until they do not resign and are in power,” he claimed.
The three named are yet to comment on Khan’s allegations, while he has provided no evidence for his assertions.
The shooting took place at a political rally on Thursday outside the town of Gujranwala, which his Tehreek-e-Insaf party described as an ‘assassination attempt’. It led to the death of one participant, Muazzam Nawaz, while 14 were injured including the former PM.
Khan’s doctor, Dr Faisal Sultan, said the former PM had sustained a fracture to his right leg, as well as bullet fragments lodged in his thigh.
Prime Minister Sharif condemned the attack and said he had ordered an immediate investigation by the interior minister. The police arrested the alleged gunman, along with two more suspects on Friday.
Khan was ousted after a vote of no confidence in April. Last month, the Election Commission banned him from holding public office for five years over ‘corrupt practices’, which he strongly denied.
