Wanted to assassinate former Pak PM Imran Khan because "he was misleading the public," says suspect
Islamabad, Nov 3: The man who attacked Imran Khan on Thursday during a political march in Punjab province said he tried to assassinate the former Pakistan prime minister 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 has 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.
"I decided to kill him because when a call for prayer was given, songs were being played (from the container)," he added.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunman fired on the container-mounted truck carrying Khan from a close range.
They said one person has been arrested from the spot and police took him to an unknown location.
Video footage showed a PTI worker tackling the attacker from behind and trying to grab the gun of the attacker.
Ehtisam, who tackled the attacker, told the media that he forced the gun of the attacker downward and stopped further mayhem.
"If something tragic had happened to Khan in our area, then we all would have been ashamed," he said, adding that he was sorry that he could not stop the gunman from firing the first shot.
ARY News, which is considered as a mouthpiece of Khan's party, reported that he was out of danger.
Khan, who was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, has talked about a 'threat letter' from the US and claimed that it was part of a foreign conspiracy to remove him as he was not acceptable for following an independent foreign policy.
The US has bluntly rejected the allegations.
He has been demanding early elections and he is leading the long march towards Islamabad to force his demands.
The term of the National Assembly will end in August 2023 and fresh elections should be held within 60 days.
Watch: "Came To Kill Imran Khan Because...," Shooter Says On Camera#ImranKhan #Imrankhanourredline #ImranKhanLongMarch pic.twitter.com/O0nUIA5M36
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Leadership issue: Cong high command will call us at 'appropriate time,' will wait, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 20 (PTI): With the leadership issue involving him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to the fore again, deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has told the two leaders as to when they will be called to Delhi to to discuss the matter.
He said that both of them will go to Delhi and meet the high command, when summoned.
"I will inform you, I won't do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on him and Siddaramaiah's likely visit to the national capital to meet the party high command after the just concluded legislature session.
Asked if there was any invitation from the high command, asking him and CM to come to Delhi, he said, "they have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go."
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"They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call," the Karnataka Congress chief added.
Shivakumar's statement came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue in office. He had also said that the Congress high command was "in my favour" and asserted that no decision was made on him staying at the helm for only two-and-a-half years, as per a rumoured 2023 agreement on power-sharing with his deputy.
Shivakumar, had said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fueled by the "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.
Meanwhile some 'Naga Sadhus' visited the Deputy CM's residence and blessed him.
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Stating that he is going to Delhi on Tuesday to meet various central ministers, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for water resources said, "the central government's water resources department has called us regarding interlinking of rivers."
"I will go there and discuss matters related to the state's river projects like Mahadayi, Krishna water award, Mekedatu, and Upper Badhra."
He said he will also meet the central water resources minister, forest minister, urban development minister.
"There are a lot of issues. We wanted to meet them along with MPs from the state, but still I will go and meet. Then after that, if needed, we will meet the Prime Minister also with the issues," Shivkumar added.
Hitting out at the Modi government at the Center for replacing the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from it, Shivakumar accused it of insulting the father of the nation.
He also challenged the government to remove Gandhiji's image from currency notes.
"The country wants Gandhi. People of the country will respond to it," he said.
"They want to change Gandhi's name...let them change this picture of Gandhi also," he said, showing a currency note.
"With Gandhi's name we had started an employment guarantee scheme under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and (late) Manmohan Singh (former PM), the MGNREGA.....they want to kill the scheme, so they have changed its name. A big movement will start against it from Karnataka itself," he said.
