Former Pakistani PM injured in assassination attempt

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 70, was holding an anti-government protest convoy Thursday when a gunman attacked. The attacker shot Khan in the leg, killed one supporter, and wounded at least nine other people. Police arrested the shooter at the scene but no group has claimed responsibility. Leaders from Khan’s party said the attack was meant to take Khan’s life. Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the shooting and ordered an immediate investigation.

Why was Khan ousted? Khan was prime minister from 2018 to 2022 when Pakistan’s parliament held a no-confidence vote and ousted Khan in April. There had been growing dissatisfaction with Khan because of an economic downturn starting in 2020. After that, he lost the support of the military and his party. He has currently been leading rallies across Pakistan. Thursday’s protest convoy was to demand elections before the end of the term in 2023.

Dig deeper: Listen to Onize Ohikere’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about the devastating floods in Pakistan.