• PTI chief insists different bullets found from crime scene, ‘proving’ two men involved in attack
• Says army chief should be appointed on merit, ruling parties want their ‘own guy’ to save corruption

GUJRAT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that the man who tried to assassinate him in Wazirabad was a “trained shooter” and not a “religious fanatic” as opposed to what the authorities were trying to portray.

In an interview with German state-run international broadcaster DW on Thursday, Mr Khan claimed the suspected assailant’s profile did not match that of a religious fanatic. “He did not even say his prayers. The social media guys have done all the background checks of where he lived etc. This was not a religious fanatic, this was a trained shooter,” he insisted.

The PTI chief reiterated his claim that there were two shooters. “They have done the forensics... they found two different kinds of bullets, so already that narrative (of a lone shooter) has blown apart. There was another shooter from the buildings firing different bullets.”

When asked how he was sure the three top government and military officers he has accused were behind the murder attempt, he said: “Killing is not new for them. As for the military intelligence guy, they were in cahoots.”

Mr Khan further claimed the “intelligence guy” was known for and had a background of “bumping off people”. He also said he would be able to provide all the circumstantial evidence for his claims when a fair investigation is conducted. “Whenever there is an independent investigation, these three will be [found] involved,” he stressed.

Consultations with a ‘convict’

On the other hand, commenting on the meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former premier Nawaz Sharif in London over the past two days, where the two reportedly discussed the next army chief’s appointment, the PTI chief said it was tragic that a “convict” (referring to the PML-N supreme leader) was being consulted on Pakistan’s important matters by his younger brother, who he claimed became the PM through a conspiracy.

Mr Khan was addressing a joint gathering of PTI and PML-Q leaders and supporters through a video link at GTS Chowk here on Friday evening. The PTI’s long march, which resumed from Wazirabad on Thursday, reached the intersection on Friday where the party’s local chapter had installed large screens to broadcast the party chairman’s speech.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Punjab President Dr Yasmeen Rashid, PML-Q MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi and PTI Gujrat President Saleem Jaura were present on the container leading the long march.

Huge billboards carrying portraits of Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi, his son MNA Moonis Elahi and former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain were displayed throughout the route of the march along the GT road patch of the city as well as the main venue of the rally.

Imran Khan said the army chief should be appointed on merit, however those in power had never cared about merit, claiming the ruling parties wanted to appoint a chief of their choice to save their looted wealth and evade accountability.

“These thieves only have one other achievement apart from their corruption -- they gradually managed to have all the cases against them closed,” he remarked.

He further said prosperous countries had strong institutions. “What they (Nawaz and Shehbaz) are doing in London is theatrics,” he added.

“I can’t get a first information report (FIR) registered despite being a former prime minister because a powerful person has been nominated in it,” he lamented, saying such a situation could never arise in a civilised country as rule of law prevailed there.

The PTI chief alleged “deals” were being struck in the country with powerful criminals, adding no nation could progress without ensuring rule of law. He further said the government was trying to run the country’s economy through foreign debts and financial assistance, which could never bring any improvement, as loans were mounting and the country’s situation was deteriorating.

He alleged that the rulers looted the remittances sent by expats and stashed them abroad, which was why they introduced amendments to the accountability laws. He also took on the chief election commissioner, claiming he did not let electronic voting machines be introduced for future polls.

However, the nation had stood up against such elements to get rid of them, he said, adding his rivals thought he would sit at home after getting injured, but he would join the long march in Rawalpindi. Until then, he urged the people to continue the journey.

Later, the long march participants dispersed peacefully after the party chief’s speech. The procession, led by Mr Qureshi, would now resume from Lalamusa on Saturday (today) at 2pm.

Extraordinary security arrangements had been taken along the GT road as well as at the venue of the gathering.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2022