Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan survived an assassination attempt on Day seven of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ‘Haqeeqi Long March’ as his container moved through Punjab’s Wazirabad.
Here is a timeline of what happened.
4:21PM – Firing near Imran’s container during the long march
An unidentified assailant opens fire on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s container near the Allah Ho Chowk
4:37PM – Reports of Khan shot at and injured
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirms that Khan was shot in the leg in a targeted attack during the long march in Wazirabad today. Footage of Imran, with a bandaged leg, being moved from the container to a vehicle with the help of his security team surface.
4:43PM – Imran injured, waves at supporters after injury, moved to a car
Khan is rushed to a safe place as per initial reports. He is shot in the leg but is stable while being taken to hospital. He waves at supporters too.
5:25PM – Prime Minister Shehbaz seeks immediate report on issue
Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of and “severely condemns” the firing incident at Imran Khan’s long march.
He instructs Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report on the incident from the IGP and chief secretary Punjab.
6:00PM – Shooter confesses to crime
The suspect/shooter, caught by police on the scene, says that he wants to kill PTI Chairman Imran Khan because “Khan was misleading the public.”
“He (Imran) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it so I killed him… attempted to kill him,” the shooter says in a video statement.
“I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill just Imran Khan and no one else.”
6:20PM – Reports of Khan being treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital surface
Khan is taken to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore for immediate treatment.
6:50PM – Punjab IG wants report on attack
According to Dawn News, Inspector-General of Punjab Police, Faisal Shahkar, took notice of the attack on PTI chairman Imran Khan and summons a report from Gujrat regional police officers.
Meanwhile, the deputy police officer of Gujrat is instructed to reach the attack site.
According to a statement from a police spokesperson, the attack will be investigated from all angles and the perpetrators will be arrested immediately.
7:00PM – Khan out of danger, being treated at Hospital
Dr Faisal Sultan, while talking to the media, says that Khan is out of danger and is being treated at the hospital.
8:15PM – Khan names three suspects behind today’s attack: Asad Umar
PTI leader Asad Umar, in a video message today, reveals Khan named three suspects who could be behind today’s attack.
“Shortly before this video, Imran Khan called us and told us to convey this message to the nation on his behalf. He said that he had received some information earlier as well.”
“He said that he believes three people were involved in the attack […] and those three people are Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal,” Umar said.
He also said that the PTI chief has demanded that Shehbaz, Sanaullah and General Faisal be immediately removed from their posts. “Otherwise, a protest will be held across the country.”
8:53PM – Punjab CM orders constitution of JIT to probe attack
Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi instructs the police to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the attack on PTI’s convoy in Wazirabad today.
Elahi says that the counter-terrorism department will be placed on the team to investigate the motives of the incident.
“We want to know who is behind the incident, who trained the accused, how much money was he given and where did he get it from,” the chief minister said.
9:10PM – Federal govt to ask Punjab govt to form JIT to probe attack on Imran
The federal government decides to ask Punjab government to form a joint investigation team comprising senior officers to investigate the attack on Imran Khan, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Sanaullah, in a press conference alongside Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in Islamabad, said the entire government condemned the firing incident.
He said the federal government has assured the Punjab government of “assistance of any kind” during the investigation.
