Pakistan’s Khan stable after shooting, blames government

Former Pakistan premier Imran Khan underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments after he was shot in the leg at a rally in eastern Punjab province. He is in stable condition.

Khan blames Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others in his administration for the attack, according Asad Umar, a senior leader of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Khan spoke to two senior party members after the shooting and asked them to convey his statement, Umar said.

Other PTI officials have said there were two shooters at the scene. Local TV stations are broadcasting the alleged confession made by one of the attackers to the police. At least one by-stander was killed in the gunfire, according to police. Sharif’s government has condemned the incident and called for an investigation.

The former premier was leading a march toward the capital Islamabad to demand early elections. Several supporters have taken to the streets in Karachi and Islamabad and other cities to protest and Khan’s party leaders are urging for the march to continue.

Khan has blamed Prime Minister Sharif for the attack and asked him to resign or face nationwide protests, senior PTI leader Asad Umar said in a video message after meeting the former cricket star. A police complaint will be filed against the PM and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, said Umar without giving other details.

Khan’s supporters have taken to the streets, in so far largely peaceful protests, across the country, news reports said. They’re marching in capital Islamabad and financial hub Karachi.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has asked local administration to secure the attack site to preserve evidence and carry out a detailed investigations into the incident. Police have recovered a 9mm pistol and two empty bullet magazines from the shooter, said Muhammad Nadeem, the police security in-charge for Khan’s rally.

Pakistan’s powerful military also condemned the shooting incident and offered prayers for Khan’s swift recovery.

Khan’s leading political rivals, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, condemned the attack.

PTI leader Iftikhar Durrani told party supporters to continue the march to push for early elections, assuring them that Khan was in a stable condition. Local TV stations are broadcasting the alleged confession made by one of the attackers to the police. In the confession, the unidentified man said he tried to assassinate Khan because the ex-leader was misguiding people.

Pakistan television stations are reporting that at least seven to eights bullets were fired at Khan’s convoy by the suspected assailant before he was overpowered by supporters.  The “assassination attempt on Imran Khan is an attack on Pakistan,” tweeted Farrukh Habib, a senior member of the former premier’s party.

Bonds haven’t moved much after the shooting and are just holding the earlier losses. Pakistan’s 7.375% 2031 bond was indicated holding losses, down 0.4 cents to 30 cents on the dollar

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs of India said. “This is a developing story which we closely watch.”

—Bloomberg