‘Three criminals’ waiting to target me again: Imran
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday alleged that “three criminals”, who were behind the failed assassination attempt on him early this month, are waiting to target him again.
Addressing a mega rally of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Rawalpindi, which houses the headquarters of the army, Khan said he had a close encounter with death and had seen bullets flying overhead during the attack on him.
In his first in-person address to the party workers after the failed assassination bid on his life, Khan alleged that “three criminals” - who he claimed were behind the attack on him - are waiting to take a shot at him again.
The 70-year-old leader has repeatedly alleged that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, interior minister Rana Sanaullah and Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI’s) counter intelligence wing head Maj-Gen Faisal Naseer were behind the attack on him.
Khan’s party to resign from assemblies
Khan said that his party had decided to resign from the provincial assemblies instead of marching on Islamabad to force the Sharif-led government to announce snap polls.
“We will not be part of this system. We have decided to quit all the assemblies and get out of this corrupt system,” Khan said.
“I will consult all chief ministers and party leaders to leave the assemblies,” he said, adding that his party had decided not to go to Islamabad to avert any destruction or chaos.
Khan’s party has governments in Punjab and KhyberPakhtunkhwa as well as in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. It has representation in the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies also.
The party lawmakers had already resigned from the National Assembly but the resignations of all lawmakers were not accepted.
To continue his protest until new elections are announced
Khan also announced to continue his protest until new elections were announced.
Elections are not due in Pakistan until the term of the current National Assembly gets over in August 2023.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani security forces shot and killed nine alleged insurgents on Saturday during a raid on their hideout in southwestern Balochistan province, the military said.