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CNN
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Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan said he took three bullets in his right leg from the firing that injured him last week.
Khan escaped firing at a political rally in Gujranwala on Thursday, an incident his party called an assassination attempt.
“They took three bullets out of my right leg,” Khan said in an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson on Monday. There were a few pieces on the left side, which they left inside.
He said his bone was damaged and his leg was aging, and Khan said it would take four to six weeks to resume normal activity.
Speaking from his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park, Khan said he had received information from intelligence agencies that the shooting in which he was injured would take place last week.
Khan told Anderson on Monday what information was given about the incident and by whom: “Remember, I was in power for three-and-a-half years. I have connections with intelligence agencies, various agencies that work. How did I get the information? From within the intelligence agencies. Why? Because most people are appalled by what is going on in this country.
Pakistan’s intelligence agency said last week that it had communicated with Khan “about the threat” before the rally. The outfit had already sensitized the federal government about the former prime minister’s threat, which was communicated to the Punjab provincial government, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) said in a statement.
The ISI also said Khan’s security is under the authority of the Punjab provincial government, which is led by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Last Friday, Khan blamed establishment figures for a plot to kill him – a claim strongly denied by administration and security officials.
“As events unfold, they are in that speech. How can this happen, a fanatic will kill me for blasphemy and they will blame him. It’s all in my speech that I put on television — it’s on social media,” he said, referring to a speech he gave on Sept. 24 in which he explained how the events of the shooting would unfold.
Asked about suggestions from his critics that blaming the current government for the attack would help bring Khan back to power, he replied, “I don’t need any reason to blame this government to come back to power.” His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has remained popular since his ouster in April.
“They tried everything to get me out of the way somehow. “When that didn’t happen, it was planned,” he added.
Thursday’s attack left one dead and several injured and Khan was admitted to a hospital in Lahore for treatment after being shot. Speaking from hospital on Friday and without giving evidence, Khan blamed Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and senior intelligence official Major General Faisal. CNN is reaching out to the three men for comment.
Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry last week denied Khan’s allegations against Sharif and Sanaullah at a Pakistani press conference.
The Pakistan Army also hit back, calling Khan’s claims “baseless and irresponsible” and “totally unacceptable and uncalled for”. In a statement on Friday night, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) termed Khan’s allegations against the army and military personnel as “deeply regrettable and strongly condemned”.
“Pakistan Army prides itself on being a highly professional and disciplined organization with a strong and highly effective internal accountability system applicable across the board for any illegal acts by its uniformed personnel,” the statement said.
“However, if vested interests tarnish the honor, safety and dignity of its rank and file through frivolous allegations, the institution will be jealous to protect its officers and soldiers,” it continued.
CNN reported Monday that Khan wrote to Pakistani President Arif Alvi saying his party has faced “increasing false accusations, harassment, arrests and custodial torture” since Khan’s government was ousted from power in April.
The letter, obtained by CNN from a source close to the former prime minister, was dated Nov. 6, three days after he escaped the shooting.
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