Politicians, military condemn gun attack

The country’s civil and military leadership on Thursday strongly condemned the incident of firing on the PTI long march in Wazirabad, Gujranwala district.

In their statements and social media posts, they expressed deep sorrow over the death of a PTI supporter in the incident and prayed for early recovery of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who sustained bullet wound.

President Arif Alvi condemned the “heinous assassination attempt on the brave Imran Khan”. He termed the attack “shocking, deceitful and cowardly”. In the tweet, the president hoped Imran’s injuries would be “non-critical”.

“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a separate series of tweets. He prayed for the recovery and health of PTI chairman and other injured people.

Both the president and the prime minister prayed for early recovery of the PTI chairman and extended their condolences to family of deceased political worker who died in the shooting.

They also said that they had sought immediate reports of the authorities concerned. Shehbaz directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek details of the incident from Punjab chief secretary and the inspector general police.

“Federal government will extend all support necessary to Punjab government for security and investigation,” Shehbaz said in one of his tweets. “Violence should have no place in our country’s politics.”

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also took to the micro-blogging website, Twitter, saying that “firing incident during the long march near Gujranwala is highly condemnable”.

The ISPR said: “Sincere prayers for precious life lost and speedy recovery and well being of Chairman PTI Mr Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz also condemned “the firing on Imran Khan and his associates” and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

In a separate statement, PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz condemned the incident. He said the provincial government should apprise of the security arrangements made for the PTI march.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the firing incident on PTI long march in a statement but cautioned that “it is a sensitive matter” and it should not be politicised and speculations should be avoided.

Aurangzeb stressed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already sought a report from the authorities concerned, adding that the federal government would provide all possible assistance to the provincial government.

Marriyum said the Punjab police as well as administration and other relevant departments should bring forth the facts after investigating the incident which occurred within the jurisdiction of Punjab government.

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the Gujranullah firing episode. Expressing concern over the shooting, the minister said that he had sought details of the incident.

“On the instructions of the prime minister, a report of the incident is sought from the chief secretary and IG police Punjab. A report of the firing incident has also been sought from the federal security agencies,” he added.

Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in his tweet: “Strongly condemn the attack on @ImranKhanPTI. Praying for his swift recovery.”

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani prayed for the early recovery of PTI chairman Imran Khan, Senator Faisal Javed and other injured in the sad incident.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani termed the incident an act of terrorism and expressed their concern over the injury of PTI chief Imran Khan and other leaders.

Meanwhile, several current and former cricketers also condemned the attack on Imran. Deeply disturbed about the events unfolding in Wazirabad, tweeted former captain Waseem Akram.

Current Pakistan captain Babar Azam, batsman Fakhar Zaman, and former pacer Wahab Riaz also condemned the incident in their tweets. “May Allah keep Kaptaan safe and protect our beloved Pakistan,” said Babar Azam.