US Condemns Shooting Attack on Pakistan’s Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan at Rally

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is helped after he was shot in the shin in Wazirabad, Pakistan, on Nov. 3, 2022 in this still image obtained from video. Urdu Media via Reuters

The United States said Thursday that it “strongly condemned” the shooting attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at a protest convoy in central Punjab province.

Khan was leading a protest convoy in Warzirabad on Thursday when gunshots were fired. One person was killed, and several others were wounded. Khan was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg, but his condition is stable.

His aides claimed that it was an assassination attempt by his rivals. Khan, 70, was ousted in April after losing a vote of confidence in parliament.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the shooting and called on all parties to refrain from violence.

“We wish Imran Khan and all others who were injured a quick and thorough recovery, and we offer our condolences to the family of the individual who was killed,” Blinken said in a statement.

“Violence has no place in politics, and we call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation. The United States is deeply committed to a democratic and peaceful Pakistan, and we stand with the Pakistani people,” he added.

The United Nations also condemned the shooting and called for “a full and transparent investigation” into the incident.

“We very much hope that this will not create further challenges to the political situation in Pakistan,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Alleged Shooter Claims He ‘Acted Alone’

A man suspected of shooting Khan was arrested at the scene after being stopped by one of the people at the rally. In a video released after his arrest, the suspect admitted that he had acted alone. It is unclear who posted the video.

The unnamed suspect said that he wanted to kill Khan because the politician was “misleading the people.”

“I thought they were violating [the sanctity of] Azaan by playing loud music [on their sound system]. My conscience could not deal with it, and I took action,” he said, Geo TV reported. Azaan refers to the Muslim call to prayer.

“I acted alone. I did not have anyone to back me up for the shooting,” the suspect added.

The person who stopped the shooter told Geo TV that the suspect had fired only once during the rally, but because he had put the handgun in “burst mode,” shooting continued until the clip was empty.

Khan aide, Asad Umar, believed that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and intelligence official Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer were behind the attack. But he did not provide any evidence to back the allegation.

Sharif said on Twitter that he condemned the shooting “in the strongest words” and ordered an immediate investigation.

Khan—who was convicted after his removal from office by Pakistan’s election commission of selling state gifts unlawfully, charges that he denied—had been whipping up large crowds on his way to Islamabad in a campaign to topple Sharif’s government.

Reuters contributed to this report.