Wanted To Assassinate Him As He Was Misleading Public: Imran Khan’s Attacker

Islamabad: The man who attacked former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday during a political march in Punjab province said he tried to assassinate the former PM because “he was misleading the public” and could not tolerate it.

Khan, 70, was injured when the unidentified gunman opened fire on the container-mounted-truck carrying him during his protest march, but he was out of danger in what his party claimed was an “assassination attempt.” The incident occurred near Allahwala Chowk of Wazirabad town in Punjab when Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician, was leading the long march to Islamabad demanding early elections.

The gunman was immediately nabbed by security officers and workers of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

The clip of his confessional statement, which is now being circulated on local media, shows a man in his late twenties, sporting a dishevelled look.

“He (Imran) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it. So I killed him … attempted to kill him,” the suspect said in a video statement.

“I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill him (Khan) only and no one else,” he confessed.

The gunman admitted that he was not affiliated to any political, religious or terror outfits.

He asserted that the idea to assassinate the PTI chief germinated after he announced the mega rally on October 28.

“I decided to kill him today. This idea came to me when Khan started his long march. I am alone and nobody is with me. I came on my motorbike and I parked the bike in the shop of my uncle,” he explained.