Lahore, Nov 4 (IANS) PTI Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that four people plotted to kill him, stating that the "handlers" were taking the decisions at the back but the people were turning out to his rallies in record numbers, a media report said.
"Four people plotted to kill me. I made a video and named those people and have stashed it abroad," Khan said, adding that it would be released in case something happens, Dawn reported.
He indicated that he received the information of this plot through the relationships he had formed while in power.
In his first address since the assassination attempt on him in Gujranwala on Thursday, in which Khan sustained bullet injuries in his leg, the PTI chief stated that he was aware of the plot to kill him.
"I'll come to the details of the attack later. I got to know the day before [the attack] that either in Wazirabad of Gujrat, they planned to kill me," he said, Dawn reported.
The former Prime Minister said that Pakistan's own agencies were not allowing democratic processes to continue.
"During the by-elections in July, all the state machinery was used, rigging was done, but PTI swept the elections. What happened next was that more pressure and threats were given. A handler came to Islamabad -- Major General Faisal -- and he said that he will show how to straighten them [PTI] out," Khan alleged, Dawn reported.
"More strictness started on media and journalists favouring PTI. Our MPAs were approached, scared and threatened to abandon me... they threatened to release inappropriate videos and blackmailed them."
Khan said that his party wasn't "made by the establishment" like the PPP and the PML-N, asserting that he came to power with the people's support, Dawn reported.
"The way the people supported me, I was surprised... we announced a long march on May 25. They staged three marches during our tenure. We thought the law and Constitution permitted us [to stage a protest].
"We thought they would give us permission because we have given them permission, he said. But instead they subjected our workers and leaders to violence.
"They shelled families in Islamabad... they thought the party would end but they didn't understand the [sentiments of the] nation because when decisions are made in closed rooms, you don't know what is happening," Khan said.
A stuffed Paddington Bear was also among the tokens that were piling up at the base of trees that line the road to the palace, where thousands of people had gathered to pay their respects as of Friday afternoon. Canadian Peter Crooks, who was in London on vacation with his family, was among the visitors at the scene. He said he was honoured to pay his respects despite the sad occasion.
Since Pakistan government has sent out a global appeal to the international community for extended and immediate relief aid supplies to handle the widespread damages, flood rescue and relief activities, several countries have been extending monetary and relief aids with planes carrying flood relief supplies to coordinate with the government to manage the massive humanitarian crisis.
The Prime Minister has made it clear with officials that the unbuttoned collars and laid-back atmosphere in Downing Street both left with Boris Johnson, Daily Mail reported. During Johnson's time at No 10, he was often viewed as a scruffy dresser and his controversial chief of staff Dominic Cummings was notorious for wearing shabby outfits.
Over 1.1 million houses have been damaged and some 560,000 houses have been destroyed. Over 630,000 men, women and children are reportedly living in relief camps across Pakistan, most of them in Sindh. Many more displaced people are living with host communities.
The two victims of the fire appeared to be attempting to flee before being overcome by the blaze, officials said in a media briefing Tuesday morning. Due to the blaze, all schools in Hemet Unified School District will be closed on Tuesday. School district officials said in a statement that the decision "was not made lightly."
Truss had shared the same photo on Instagram and Twitter to mark Canada Day in 2018. "30 years ago, I spent a year in Canada that changed my outlook on life," wrote Truss, who included the hashtags "CanadaDay," "maplespirit" and "pioneercountry."
