Attack on Imran Khan: PTI leader calls it assassination attempt; monitoring the situation, says India

India said it is “closely keeping an eye” on developments in Pakistan, moment after Imran Khan was attacked during a rally today in the Punjab province.

“It’s a development that just took place. We’re closely keeping an eye on and we’ll continue to monitor ongoing developments,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

The attacker, who has been arrested, fired at the former cricketer from below when he was standing atop a container-truck to address his ongoing “long march to Islamabad” against the Shehbaz Sharif government. The suspected attacker was shot dead, Khan’s close aide told AFP news agency.

The ousted Pakistan PM sustained three bullet injuries to his leg after an assailant opened fire at his rally on Thursday evening. The firing was reported near the container-mounted truck carrying Khan during his protest march near Zafar Ali Khan chowk in the Wazirabad City.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry told Reuters that the shooting on Imran Khan’s rally in Wazirabad “was a clear assassination attempt.” “It was a clear assassination attempt. Khan was hit but he’s stable. There was a lot of bleeding,” he said adding. “If the shooter had not been stopped by people there, the entire PTI leadership would have been wiped out.” Senior PTI leader Hammad Azhar has confirmed that party member Ahmed Chattha suffered non-life threatening injuries after being shot and wounded.

“I am with Ahmed Chattha. He is out of danger. He has two gunshot wounds, one in each thigh. The wounds are not deep and he is being operated upon to remove the bullets.”

Three bullets have hit Imran Khan, medics said after the PTI chairman was shifted to the Shoukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore for treatment. At least 15 people are injured and one person killed in firing at his container near Wazirabad as his march proceeded, according to police.

Chaotic scenes broke out near Imran Khan’s reception camp at Allahwala Chowk in Gujranwala after gunshots were fired, reported local channel Geo News. It said several people were injured, reported NDTV.