Rawalpindi: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan addressed thousands of supporters on Saturday at his first public appearance since being shot earlier this month in an assassination attempt he blamed on his successor.
Khan alleged that “three criminals” were waiting to make another attempt on his life.
But he said “fear makes an entire nation into slaves”, telling supporters they should not be intimidated by threats or violence.
During his speech, he also admitted failures in tackling corruption during his premiership – saying he “failed in bringing the powerful under the law”.
The shooting was the latest twist in months of political turmoil that began in April when Khan was ousted by a vote of no confidence in parliament.
Saturday’s rally is the climax of a so-called “long march” by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to press the government to call a snap election before parliament’s term expires in October next year.
“My life is in danger, and despite being injured I am going to Rawalpindi for the nation,” PTI quoted Khan as saying in a morning tweet.
“My nation will come to Rawalpindi for me.”
A video was circulating on Saturday of aides posing with a now-removed blue cast that Khan wore on his right leg after the shooting.
The rally is in Rawalpindi, a garrison city neighbouring the capital Islamabad and home to the headquarters of the country’s powerful military. — AFP
