Police officers and other officials in Pakistan's Punjab province have been suspended by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for leaking the confession video of a man who shot at former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan, 70, sustained a bullet injury on his leg when a gunman opened fire on Thursday, November 3, on the container-mounted truck carrying him during his protest march. One person was killed in the attack, but the former Pakistan prime minister was out of danger in what his party claimed was an "assassination attempt."
Elahi ordered Inspector General (IG) Punjab police to take disciplinary action against the irresponsible officials. After the leaking of the suspect's confessional statement, the Station House Officer (SHO) and other officials of the concerned police station were suspended, the report added.
The chief minister said in a statement that all mobile phones of the police station's staffers were confiscated and they will be sent for a forensic audit. Elahi issued directives to hold an inquiry into the incident of the video leak of the suspected attacker. He directed IG Punjab to begin a probe to ascertain the motives of the gun attack. The directives were issued in an emergency session chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday.
The assailant, who opened fire at Khan during the party's long march, has confessed to the crime, saying that the former prime minister was his only target. In a video statement available with ARY News, the attacker said he was planning the assassination attempt ever since Imran left Lahore. "I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill Imran Khan only and no one else," he reportedly said.
The incident occurred near Allahwala Chowk of Wazirabad town in Punjab when Khan was leading the long march to Islamabad demanding early elections.
Asad Umar, the senior leader of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told the media that a bullet hit Khan's leg.
Khan underwent surgery at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore and his condition is stable, his party leader Omar Ayub Khan said.
In a statement, the Punjab police on Thursday said that seven people were injured and one person was killed during the attack. It added that a suspect has been arrested.
Umar in a video statement said that party chairman Khan has named three suspects who could be behind the attack. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that the attack on Khan must be unequivocally condemned. "All political parties have the right to hold peaceful assemblies and to expect security from the state when doing so."