Former PM's truck crushed a journalist as he journeyed to capital

In an accident in eastern Pakistan on Sunday, as Imran Khan led a procession of his supporters toward the capital, a female journalist was fatally crushed by a vehicle carrying the former prime minister, according to party officials and journalists. Khan decided to suspend his "long march" into Islamabad in order to put pressure on the federal government to call early elections as a result of the incident. His convoy departed from Lahore in the east and is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Friday. Khan wrote on Twitter that he was "shocked & extremely saddened" by the tragic tragedy that claimed the life of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during our March today.

Shocked & deeply saddened by the terrible accident that led to the death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during our March today. I have no words to express my sorrow. My prayers & condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our March for today.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 30, 2022

Khan claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activities scheduled for Sunday had been postponed. According to journalist Qazzafi Butt, who saw the event happen, Naeem, 40, lost her footing while attempting to jump aboard Khan's truck to interview the former premier. She slumped to the ground and the truck's wheel reportedly ran over her head. Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, the leader of the PTI, verified that Khan's car ran over Naeem. Officials from the local police force did not reply to Reuters' request for comment. The incident happened as Khan's convoy was passing through Gujranwala, which is 136 miles (220 kilometers) away from Islamabad. In order to garner support, he intends to host political events in the cities surrounding Islamabad.