By Afshain Afzal

There was a firing incident at protest-truck carrying Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan on its top in Gujranwala near the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reception camp. The hospital authorities reported that it was very minor injury and it just grazed the flesh over lower shin near the ankle of right leg. Gujranwala District Headquarters Hospital’s Medical Superintendent told the media that seven injured persons were brought to the hospital and one dead body was also brought but it could not be confirmed if death by bullet wound was related to the rally-firing incident. Party has so far not named any worker who has been killed.

Reportedly, the PTI worker namely Ibtisam, who grabbed the shooter while firing at Imran Khan’s truck disclosed, “He loaded the magazine and was preparing to fire. I approached him when he shot one bullet in air. I pulled at him, which caused his aim to go awry. He then tried to run away, but people went after him, and we managed to stop him.” One wonder if this is the case how he can have shot nine persons in the presence of party members assembly.

Over a week ago Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Naizi announced “Haqeqi Long March” from Lahore and targeted to assemble at federal capital Islamabad on Friday, 4 November 2022. After the incident, the PTI leaders did not proceed to Islamabad and returned to Lahore. In the same regard, speaking to the media Asad Umar confirmed that Imran Khan received leg injury and was not seriously hurt. He added that Imran Khan is to be taken to a hospital in Lahore. It is claimed that Faisal Javed was also wounded in the incident. Faisal Javed wearing white salwar Kamiz dress with strains of blood were photographed by media persons as an evidence of his injury.

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership is claiming that the attack was an attempt on the life of the country’s former premier. Several supporters said that the leadership failed to honor the sentiments of the political workers who are in the under the open sky from the last eight days. Nazir Hussain said, we were told that it will be “Long March” and to reach Islamabad at “D Chowk” on 4 November but plan to reach the federal capital changed from 4^th November to 9^th November and now the leadership is telling us about 11 November 2022.  One supporter was determined to reach Islamabad at all costs.

Meanwhile, a four-page term and conditions letter which included assurance that permission for the rally will be for one day, prohibition on the use of loudspeakers in the rally, assurance no display of weapons, no torching   of national or party flag, no statements related to religion will be avoided in the rally and only 12 people allowed to mount on the stage during rally etc.

Let the police investigate the real story and who all were behind; who fired, who caught him, why he fired, who were injured and who were not. But a very strange thing happened, if the footage of shooter with gun near Imran Khan’s is real one… How it can happen when during the firing no one ran away and even young boy and many teens as well as elders were watching a terrorist with interest, if it was their favourite drama telecast at prime time. The rallies and marches are part of democratic process. There should be freedom to express opinion and call a spade a spade but politicians must ensure that general masses are not disturbed and normal life disrupted. At the same time, it is responsibility of the ruling government to provide security to the rally’s protesters as well as general public.