ISLAMABAD: The deputy commission of Peshawar on Thursday denied there had been an angry protest in front of the top military commander’s residence in the city, hours after former premier Imran Khan was shot during a protest march in what was described as a “planned assassination attempt” by his aides.
Khan was once viewed to be supported by the country’s powerful military establishment, though he became critical of top military officials after being driven out of power in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April.
The former prime minister has since been criticizing the Pakistani military, which has ruled the South Asian country for almost half of its 75-year history, and the army chief, for not intervening to block his ouster, which he says was part of a United States-backed “foreign conspiracy.”
Washington, Khan’s political rivals who are now in power and the military deny the allegations.
On Thursday, a senior PTI party leader, Shireen Mazari, shared a video clip, saying their had protesters outside the corps commander’s residence in Peshawar in a Twitter post.
A statement issued by the deputy commissioner, however, denied the development, saying it was a peaceful protest which moved through different parts of the city.
“A peaceful protest was organized in Peshawar in the wake of the firing on Imran Khan’s long march today, which started from Hashtangri and went to the Chief Minister’s House,” the statement said. “On the way, it passed in front of the Judicial Complex, Deputy Commissioner’s Office and Thana Sharqi.”
It added the provincial level leaders participated in the demonstration.
“Reports of protests outside the Corps Commander’s House circulating on social media are rumors and there is no truth in them,” the statement continued.
A military official, who declined to be named, agreed that no protest took place in front of the Corps Commander’s House.
“Old videos were used on social media to build the narrative,” he added.
In a statement released after the firing, the army’s media wing sent its “sincere prayers” to Khan for his “speedy recovery and wellbeing.”
