Imran Khan: Shock and condemnation over attack on Pakistan ex-PM

A weapon onslaught connected Pakistan's erstwhile premier curate Imran Khan which supporters accidental was an attempted assassination has drawn planetary condemnation.

Mr Khan, 70, is recovering successful infirmary aft being changeable successful the limb connected Thursday astatine a protestation march successful Warzirabad successful the north-east of the country.

His campy said helium was successful a unchangeable condition, and could perchance permission infirmary successful the coming days.

One idiosyncratic was killed and astatine slightest 10 injured erstwhile his convoy faced gunfire.

The onslaught connected Mr Khan has electrified the country. Mr Khan's enactment - the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - has called for nationwide protests aft Friday prayers. Schools person been closed successful the superior Islamabad.

Pakistan's leaders person condemned the onslaught connected their opponent, with President Arif Alvi calling it a "heinous assassination attempt" and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordering an contiguous investigation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has besides called for calm, saying: "Violence has nary spot successful politics, and we telephone connected each parties to refrain from violence, harassment and intimidation."

The cricket prima turned person remains fashionable among voters but was ousted successful April successful a parliamentary vote.

He has since been warring to instrumentality to office. Buoyed by beardown PTI victories successful caller section elections, Mr Khan had been starring a "long march" of protests calling for aboriginal elections to facilitate his comeback.

He has characterised his removal arsenic a governmental conspiracy and been loudly captious for months of the existent authorities and subject leaders. Courts person convicted him successful caller corruption cases but helium has disputed the verdicts arsenic politically motivated.

Pakistan has a grounds of governmental violence, with erstwhile premier curate Benazir Bhutto assassinated successful 2007. Many evoked her sidesplitting successful the aftermath of the onslaught connected Mr Khan.

The state is besides reeling from an ongoing economical situation and devastating floods.

On Thursday helium was lasting connected an unfastened truck-bed surrounded by aides and his different enactment members erstwhile the shooting began.

It was the seventh time of his agelong march, which aimed to get successful Islamabad adjacent week. His motortruck was successful Wazirabad, astir 100km (60 miles) from Lahore.

Survivors from the convoy told the BBC that Mr Khan had been waving to supporters and was astir to statesman speaking to the assemblage erstwhile the gunfire rang out.

"We could intelligibly spot the attacker from atop the container," 1 enactment staffer Mueezuddin, told the BBC.

"We saw the attacker had emptied a full magazine... [and helium had] loaded different mag erstwhile helium was grabbed by a lad from behind."

He added: "It was truthful abrupt that it took maine a portion to recognize what was going on."

Unverified videos connected societal media amusement an assailant successful the assemblage pointing his pistol astatine Mr Khan's convoy earlier being overpowered by Mr Khan's supporters.

Mueezuddin said Mr Khan and those astir him ducked rapidly aft the archetypal shots, and erstwhile helium was deed helium remained calm portion helium was fixed archetypal assistance by his bodyguards.

He was past moved into a bulletproof car and rushed distant to infirmary successful Lahore.

Footage of the incidental and witnesser accounts suggested a information defender was besides seen firing from the container.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi has suggested determination whitethorn person been much than 1 attacker, saying Mr Khan had been "shot successful the limb from the beforehand portion the alleged attacker who was caught connected the spot was connected the close side".

Immediately aft the shooting, immoderate of his allies told media that Mr Khan believed the existent governmental leaders - PM Sharif, the Interior Minister and a subject wide - were down the attack.

One spokesman, Raoof Hasan, told the BBC's Newshour programme the authorities was "attempting to destruct [Imran Khan] physically".

Pakistan's leaders person not yet addressed specified allegations.

Police connected Tuesday nighttime released a video confession of the antheral who they said had attempted to termination Mr Khan.

It's unclear the conditions nether which the interrogation was carried out. But successful effect to constabulary asking him wherefore helium had opened occurrence helium said: "He was misguiding the people. I wanted to termination him. I tried to termination him."

The video has been dismissed by Mr Khan's allies arsenic a "cover-up".

One fishy remains successful custody but nary charges person been laid.