Imran Khan blames PM Shehbaz for bid on his life

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan believes Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Sanaullah and Major General Faisal (Naseer) were behind the assasination attempt on him, Khan's close aide has said.

The 70-year-old former prime minister, who sustained bullet injury on his leg after a gunman opened fire on the container-mounted-truck carrying him during his protest march, is currently out of danger.

Khan's close aide and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Umar said in a video released Thursday that Khan wanted to convey to the nation the names of three people who plotted the attack.

He added that Khan has warned of protests across the country if the individuals accused by him were not removed from their offices.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah rejected Khan's allegations, saying the government was ready to provide every kind of support in the investigation.

He also urged the Punjab government to set up a joint investigation team of senior officers to probe the incident.

Meanwhile, former assistant to the prime minister on health Dr Faisal Sultan said that Khan's condition is stable.

The assailant, who opened fire at Khan during the party's long march, has confessed to the crime, saying that the former premier was his only target.

In a video statement available with ARY News, the attacker said he was planning the assassination attempt ever since Imran left Lahore. I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill Imran Khan only and no one else, he added.

Meanwhile, police officers and other officials in Pakistan's Punjab province have been suspended by chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for leaking the suspected attacker's confessional statement.

The United States on Thursday condemned the attack on former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, stating violence had no place in politics and America is deeply committed to a democratic and peaceful Pakistan.

Violence has no place in politics, and we call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation.

The United States is deeply committed to a democratic and peaceful Pakistan, and we stand with the Pakistani people, Blinken added.