Imran Khan said that he decided to call off the ‘long march’ to the capital Islamabad fearing chaos.
“I have decided not to go to Islamabad because I know there will be havoc, and the loss will be to the country,” Khan told the crowd at a rally in the city of Rawalpindi.
Khan also said he would hold meetings with ministers and parliamentary leaders of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on resigning from all provincial assemblies in order to push for early elections.
“Instead of creating havoc in our country, it is better that we get out of this corrupt system,” he said.
On April 19th, a no-confidence vote was conducted and he was ousted from office, becoming the first prime minister in Pakistan to be removed from office by a vote of no-confidence.
Khan claimed the US was behind his removal because he conducted an independent foreign policy and had friendly relations with China and Russia. His removal led to protests from his supporters across Pakistan.
On November 3rd, Khan was shot in the leg or in the foot by a gunman while giving a speech to supporters at a rally in Wazirabad, Punjab, and leading a march to the capital Islamabad to demand snap elections after he was ousted.
Automatic gunfire was heard in footage aired on local news channels which also showed Khan being carried away and put in a car, with a bandage visible on his leg. Khan's conditions were not described as critical.
A PTI party's supporter was killed during the shooting, and eight other people were also wounded. The perpetrator was arrested at the scene and claimed that he wanted only to target Khan for “spreading hatred and misleading the people”. (ILKHA)