Imran khan appeals people to vote for his party

Lahore: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who was injured in a fall at an election meeting, has made an appeal to the people from his hospital bed to vote for his party in the May 11 polls and help build a ‘new Pakistan’.

“I have fought for Pakistan for 17 years. I have done whatever I could, now I want you to take over your responsibilities. If you want to change your fate, you will have to take responsibility,” said Khan, who sustained injuries to the head and back after he and three bodyguards tumbled from a forklift that was hoisting them to a makeshift stage.

The cricketer-turned-politician was taken to his Shaukat Khanum Hospital, where doctors admitted him to the intensive care unit so that he could be monitored round the clock.

Party officials said he had suffered fractures of the skull and two vertebrae but was out of danger. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leaders acknowledged that Khan would no longer be able to head the party’s campaign.

Campaigning for Pakistan’s landmark general election will end on May 9, two days ahead of the polling.

Doctors said the fractures suffered by Khan had not affected his brain or spinal cord and that he had been advised bed rest.