Former prime minister shot in leg while leading protest

dpa/NAN

Pakistan’s former premier, Imran Khan was hit by a bullet in the leg when his protest convoy came under gunfire in the central province of Punjab, triggering panic.

Khan’s political aide, Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday, triggering panic.

Khan, who was ousted by a vote of no confidence by the country’s parliament earlier this year, is receiving hospital treatment and is stable, said his aide.

Khan was leading a protest near the town of Gujranwala as part of his plan to march on the capital Islamabad to pressure the government to call snap elections.

“It was an assassination attempt,” Pakistan’s broadcaster ARY news quoted Chaudhry as saying.

No one was killed in the apparent attack but many party activists riding on the container truck with Khan were hurt, according to Yasmin Rashid, another Khan’s aide.

At least one suspect had been taken into custody by police officers who were providing security for Khan’s convoy, Rashid said.