Imran says had advance information about shooting from sources within intelligence agencies.

New Delhi:Pakistan’s  former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who survived an assassination bid last week during his long march in Wazirabad in Punjab province, has claimed that he had got advance information about the shooting from “connections” within the intelligence agencies.

“Remember, three and half years I was in power. I have connections with intelligence agencies, the different agencies that operate. How did I get the information? From within the intelligence agencies. Why? Because most people are appalled by what is going on in the country,” the Chief of Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in an interview to CNN’s Becky Anderson Monday.

Khan, 70, said that three bullets were removed from his right leg while some shrapnel was left inside his left leg. His bone has been damaged and that his leg is in a cast. It would take him “four to five weeks” to resume his activities.

Last week, the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI said it had informed Khan “about the threat” prior to the rally. “The organisation had already sensitised the federal government about the threat to the former prime minister who had communicated this to the Punjab provincial government,” the ISI said in a statement.

The agency also said that Khan’s security was under the authority of the provincial government of Punjab, which is led by Khan’s party.

Asked about evidence for his accusation that Prime Minster Shebaz Sharif, interior minister Rana Sanaullah and Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, DG ISI, were behind the incident, he said about two months ago this plot was conceived and he made this public on September 24. “It started off when I was deposed from the government ….”

His allegation has been aggressively refuted earlier. The prime minister has condemned the attack wishing him speedy recovery while seeking immediate report from the interior ministry.

Sanaullah, rejecting the charge had said that the incident happened in the province governed by Imran’s party.

ISI while terming the allegation as “baseless and irresponsible” had said that it was absolutely “unacceptable and uncalled for.

“Pakistan army prides itself for being an extremely professional and well discipline organization with a robust and highly effective internal accountability system and applicable across the board for unlawful acts, if any, committed by uniformed personnel,” the agency said.

Shahbaz Sharif has suggested constitution of a “full court commission” by the Supreme Court to probe Imran’s allegation.

Talking about the incident Khan claimed that there were two shooters and “may be another one” and added “there was this guy who fired the first volley… then there was another volley (that) came in over our heads because we were falling.”

He alleged that a cover-up of the incident was under way and said that is why he had demanded for an independent investigation.

Meanwhile, Punjab provincial police finally registered an FIR regarding the assassination attempt hours after the Supreme Court yesterday warned of initiating suo motu proceedings if it was not done. The police registered the case under terrorism charges, with the detained suspect Naveed being named as the prime accused.