Post date: May 07, 2013 8:56:22 PM
Dozens of supporters gather to pray for the recovery of Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan who was badly injured when he fell off a forklift as he was being raised onto a political rally stage.
KARACHI, PAKISTAN (MAY 07, 2013) (REUTERS) - Dozens of people held special prayers for Pakistan's Imran Khan on Tuesday (May 7) after the cricketer-turned-politician fell off a mechanical lift raising him onto a stage rally days before national elections.
Khan fell as the lift was just short of the 15ft (4.5 metre)-high platform in the eastern city of Lahore, witnesses said.Television footage showed the dazed leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party being led away to hospital with blood on his head.
The 60-year-old Khan, who boycotted polls in 2008, has been leading a stunning electoral campaign, firing up the middle class and young people. His PTI is not expected to win the May 11 poll, but could be a major partner in a coalition government.
Dozens of his supporters prayed for his recovery.
"We want to show strength to Imran Khan. He is our leader. He gave us the Shaukat Khanum (hospital) which was bigger than the World Cup, and the NUML College which was bigger than Shaukat Khanum. But best of all he has given us a ray of hope, a new way of thinking that has seeped into our blood and our hearts," saidSyed Ali Zaidi, a PTI election candidate.
Khan has promised to cut down on tax evasion and corruption that have bledPakistan's treasury dry.
The former cricketer was part of a Pakistani 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 the country's corruption.