Imran Khan wounded at protest march

Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has survived a gun attack on his convoy while holding a protest march in the eastern city of Wazirabad.

He was wounded in the leg when a burst of gunfire hit his vehicle. One person was killed and at least five others were injured.

There was no immediate official comment on the motive for the attack which allies say was an assassination bid.

The protest march had been called to demand early elections.

Mr Khan, 70, was leading the march, which was meant to end in the capital Islamabad.

The former international cricket star turned politician was seen being taken to a hospital in Lahore. A party spokesman said he had been hit in the shin.

He was in a stable condition but an operation was likely, aides said.

Police released a video confession of a man they arrested who they say attempted to kill the former prime minister.

It is unclear under what conditions the interview was carried out but in it the man is asked by police why he opened fire, and replies: “He was misguiding the people. I wanted to kill him. I tried to kill him.”

Speaking to the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme, a senior aide and spokesperson for Mr Khan accused the Pakistani government of being “directly involved” in the attack.

Raoof Hasan dismissed the government-released video confession as a “crude cover-up” and said the government was “attempting to eliminate [Imran Khan] physically”.

The BBC has approached the Pakistani government for comment on the accusations.

Video footage from the scene shows Mr Khan and his supporters on a shipping container being towed by a lorry before a burst of gunfire is heard. Mr Khan is then seen ducking, as those around him try to cover him.

Another video shows a conscious Mr Khan with a bandage on his right leg being taken away in a vehicle after the shooting.

A member of his PTI party is also seen with a bandage on his face and blood on his clothing, saying that people should pray for Mr Khan and all those injured.

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