LHC denies bail to prime suspect of attack on Imran Khan

The Lahore High Court has rejected the bail plea of Naved, the prime suspect in the attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

The court, presided over by a two-member bench led by Justice Shahbaz Rizvi, dismissed the plea following arguments from both sides.

The prosecution argued that Naved was apprehended at the scene and had been clearly identified through video footage.

Additionally, witnesses had come forward, and there was sufficient evidence to implicate him in the case.

"The suspect was named in the case and arrested on the spot. There is strong evidence against him, including witness testimony and footage," said the prosecutor, urging the court to reject the bail request.

In contrast, Naved’s lawyer, Mian Dawood, argued that his client was not present at the scene and had been wrongfully implicated by the police.

He further claimed that eyewitnesses had referred to an unidentified suspect and that there was a lack of concrete evidence against Naved.

"The police have included Naved’s name without justification. Eyewitnesses spoke of an unidentified individual, and there is no substantial proof," Dawood stated, requesting the court to grant bail on grounds of insufficient evidence.

After hearing the arguments, the court rejected Naved's bail plea, allowing the prosecution's claims of strong evidence to stand.

Imran escapes assassination at PTI long march

Former prime minister Imran Khan sustained 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 in 2022.

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.

Suspected attacker says he ‘only wanted to kill Imran Khan’

The suspect, who was arrested by the Punjab Police soon after he shot former prime Minister Imran Khan in Wazirabad, has confessed that he shot the PTI chief as he was "misleading" the nation.

"I could see him misleading the nation. I only wanted to target Imran Khan and no one else," he said in a video statement in police custody.

The suspect also revealed that he had intended to do so ever since the deposed premier left Lahore and started his long march. "No one is behind me and I did this [the attack] on my own," he added.