LAHORE – Former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced protests across Pakistan after Friday prayers today, saying the demonstrations will continue until the demand of Imran Khan is met.
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar announced the development, a day after the former premier sustained a bullet injury in his leg in an apparent assassination attempt.
As Khan is recovering after a surgical procedure, his party called for huge protests after Friday prayers to protest the assassination attempt, and protests will continue till the demands of PTI Chairman Imran Khan are met.
آج نماز جمعہ کے بعد تمام ملک میں احتجاج ہو گا. جب تک عمران خان کا مطالبہ پورا نہیں ہوتا، ملک گیر احتجاج جاری رہے گا
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 4, 2022
Meanwhile, Lawyers in Punjab observed strike on the appeal of Punjab Bar Council. The legal bodies boycotted court proceedings and hearing of cases were adjourned without proceeding.
Charged workers of the Imran Khan-led party also took to the streets in parts of the country where they blocked roads, burn tires, and chanted anti-government slogans.
Imran names three suspects behind attack
Former prime minister Imran Khan has held three people responsible for a gun attack at PTI long march near Wazirabad, according to senior party leader Asad Umar.
In a video statement, Umar said that Khan, who is currently under treatment for bullet wounds in the Shaukat Khanum Hospital Lahore, has recently held a conversation with Mian Aslam Iqbal and him.
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“Imran Khan told us that he had prior information of attack on him,” Umar said, adding that the PTI chief had held Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal, whose name was surfaced during Azam Swati’s alleged custodial torture incident, responsible for the attack.
“Our immediate demand is that all the three should be removed from their positions,” the PTI leader said.
Assassination attempt
On Thursday, a huge number of PTI supporters marched alongside the container on foot and some on vehicles toward today’s destination, when a gunman, who appears to be aged between 30 to 40 years, attempted to target the PTI leaders, who were standing on the container’s roof.
The PTI chief and other leaders, including Senator Faisal Javed, Umar Dar, and Ahmed Chattah, are among the eight people injured in the incident while a citizen, identified as 42-year-old Moazzam, died on the spot.
Videos shared on social media shows the attacker waving gun in the air and firing bullets when one of the PTI supporters jumps on him to snatch the pistol.
Onlookers said that the attacker was carrying a automatic pistol and he missed the target after he was captured the long march participants.
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Police have arrested the suspect from the scene. In a video statement recorded to the police, the alleged attacker said that he had planned to assassinate Imran Khan the day he started his long march from Lahore.
Top officials including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army spokesperson, Khan’s rivals condemned the incident and called for probe.
