But on Friday morning, the truck-mounted shipping container that was the lead vehicle for this march, launched by Mr Khan to jostle the government and snatch a snap election, was no more than an empty shell behind a cordon of police .
Bullets had pierced the top of the container, covered in bloodstains and draped in banners pleading for Mr Khan’s return to power.
On Thursday afternoon, an individual fired several shots at the container from the sidewalk, wounding Mr Khan in a leg and at least ten other people.
“It’s a horrible tradition we have (here),” said Osman Butt, a local trader who witnessed the scene, referring to Pakistan’s infamous political violence.
Immediately after getting out of the container and getting into a car to go to the hospital, Mr. Khan, 70, was however able to reassure his supporters about his state of health.
“Imran came down from the container soon after and made the victory sign, asking us to keep faith and be patient,” said Muhammad Usman, a 28-year-old witness, torn between pride and concern.
The former cricket champion is recovering quietly in a hospital in Lahore and should be able to leave during the day, according to a member of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI, Pakistan Movement for Justice).
– “Chaos and anarchy” –
On Friday morning, young people rode through the streets of Wazirabad on motorbikes, waving PTI flags. Managing to drown out the noise of the engines with their voices, they chanted: “Long live Imran Khan”.
Pakistan has been grappling with violent Islamist movements for decades, and several political assassinations have marked the country’s recent history.
The attack on Imran Khan echoes the attack that claimed the life in 2007 of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman of the modern era to have led a Muslim country. A suicide bomber blew himself up near her vehicle as she greeted her supporters in Rawalpindi.
Since being ousted from power in April by a motion of no confidence, Mr. Khan has repeatedly assured that his life was in danger.
Thursday’s attack, apparently carried out by a lone man who was immediately apprehended, heightened tension in the country, plunged into a serious political and economic crisis even before the end of the term of Mr Khan, who came to power in 2018 .
On Friday, a few PTI supporters gathered at the crime scene, some dressed in party colors.
“Such incidents will lead to chaos and anarchy,” warned one of them, Ahmad Khan, 25.
The premises were guarded by armed police and scrutinized by the scientific police. A police officer who requested anonymity told AFP that they were organizing a re-enactment of the shooting.
“Our leader is fine. He is a brave, a man of steel who will join us here soon,” said another supporter, Qadir Khan Sulemankhel, 37.
“We are ready to make all the sacrifices required for our leader,” he added. “We are not demoralized.”
