US condemns attack on Imran, calls on all parties to 'refrain from violence'

The United States on Friday condemned the attack on PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and urged 'all parties to remain peaceful and refrain from violence', a day after the PTI chief survived an assassination attempt.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the US “strongly condemns the attack on Imran Khan and his supporters”, and hoped for “his swift recovery and all who were injured”.

He further offered condolences to the family of the individual who was killed in the attack.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the firing incident.

"The US strongly condemns the shooting of Imran Khan at a political rally. We wish him and all others injured a quick recovery, and we offer condolences to the family of the individual who was killed," he added.

Canadian premier Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack.

Read Punjab reacts to attack on PTI chief

"The attack on Imran Khan and his supporters is completely unacceptable, and I strongly condemn this violence. It has no place in politics, in any democracy, or in our society. I’m wishing a speedy recovery to Imran and all who were injured today," Trudeau wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Imran attacked

Former prime minister Imran Khan sustained a bullet wound to his leg after an armed attack on his container, as he led the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in Wazirabad on Thursday.

One person died in the incident, while several members of the PTI chairman’s close circle, including Senator Faisal Javaid, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Ahmad Chattha and Imran Yousaf, were injured, PTI sources said.

According to PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, Imran was hit by a bullet to his leg and was shifted to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), Lahore. Doctors at the hospital said that Imran was “stable and talking”.

Officials said that a citizen, who was later identified as Muazzam Nawaz, died in the armed attack, while 14 others, including some top leaders of the PTI were injured.