Another ‘assassination plot being hatched’ against Imran

In a startling revelation, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan on Friday claimed the party had evidence of another assassination plot being hatched to murder former prime minister and party Chairman Imran Khan.

Addressing the media here, Awan, who is also Imran’s lawyer, said the party received fresh reports from a "foreign intelligence agency" about another assassination attempt on Imran’s life.

Without identifying the spy agency or divulging further details on the purported evidence, Awan said a plan had been made for a sniper to target Imran at the Islamabad judicial complex during his court hearing.

A foreign agency said that such an incident could happen in the Islamabad courts, he claimed.

The PTI leader said that CCTV cameras were switched off for the first time and no security arrangements were made for Imran's arrival at the judicial complex for a court hearing earlier this week.

He said a terrorism case had been registered against Ahmed Niazi, who is in charge of Imran's security, to undermine the security of the former premier.

“Attempts are being made to carry out an attack in the Salman Taseer and Liaquat Bagh-style formula to kill Imran Khan,” he said.

Awan also called upon the judiciary to allow his client to appear for hearings via video link due to security concerns.

The former premier sustained bullet injuries after a gunman opened fire at his container during the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in Wazirabad in November last year.

One person had 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.

In his address, Imran claimed that five people, including Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and "Dirty Harry" were conspiring to kill him in a bid to stop his potential return to power.