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Imran Khan injured in fall from stage at rally in Pakistan Imran Khan injured in fall from stage at rally in Pakistan
(about 1 hour later)
One of Pakistan's most prominent politicians, the former cricket star Imran Khan, has been injured in a fall from a stage during a political rally. The Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has injured his head falling off a mechanical lift that was raising him on to a stage at a rally, four days before national elections.
One of the leaders of Khan's Movement for Justice party, Ijaz Chaudhry, said the politician had been taken to a hospital after the incident, in the eastern city of Lahore, but his injuries were not life-threatening. Khan fell as the lift was just short of the 4.5 metre (15ft)-high platform in Lahore, witnesses said.
Local television footage showed supporters carrying Khan away from the rally. His face was bloody and he appeared to be unconscious. Television footage showed the dazed leader of Pakistan's Movement for Justice party being led away to hospital with blood on his head.
Khan fell at least five metres (15ft) from what appeared to be a makeshift elevator raising him up to the stage. "He is not in any danger … He is having tests but his injuries seem minor," said a party spokesman, Shafqat Mahmood.
According to reports in local newspapers, the platform may have become unsteady because of the large number of people standing on it. Dr Faisal Sultan, head of the Shaukat Khanum cancer hospital, said: "Imran has a head injury but he is stable, talking and recognising people. We will conduct some tests and further examinations."
Khan's former wife, Jemima Khan, tweeted: "He's in hospital & conscious now."
Khan's party is not expected to win the election on 11 May but it could be a major partner in a coalition government.
He has promised to cut down on the tax evasion and corruption that have bled Pakistan's treasury dry.
Khan was part of the Pakistan team that won the cricket World Cup in 1992.
His political party has had a marginal showing in previous polls but has benefited from a groundswell of support this year, especially from young, urban voters fed up with corruption.
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