Imran Khan's supporters hold nationwide protests; ex-PM says 'was hit by 4 bullets'

Angry supporters of Imran Khan took to the streets across Pakistan after Friday prayers to protest against the assassination bid on the ousted prime minister who, in a dramatic address to the nation from a hospital, vowed to resume his march to Islamabad demanding fresh general elections.

While Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party insisted that Thursday's attack was a "prelude to a well-thought-out conspiracy" to assassinate their leader, the federal government has asked the PTI-led Punjab provincial government to constitute a high-level joint investigation team for a thorough probe to bring facts to light.

Khan, 70, suffered bullet injuries in the right leg when two gunmen fired at him on Thursday in the Wazirabad area of Punjab province, where he was leading a protest march against the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.


Addressing the nation for the first time from his Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore where he is being treated, Khan, whose right leg was plastered, vowed to take to the streets once he has recovered from his injuries. "As soon as I get well, I have decided to take to the streets and will give the call for Islamabad," he said in his one hour-45 minutes speech, during which he attacked the government led by Prime Minister Sharif.

Khan said he was hit by four bullets.

Irate protesters blocked the busy Murree Road, the artery of Rawalpindi, which leads to Islamabad. They also clashed with police at the Faizabad interchange, which connects the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Separately, protests were witnessed outside the Governor House in Lahore, with television footage showing protesters trying to scale the gates of the sprawling premises.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Khan's party, alleged it was "a planned assassination attempt on Imran Khan".