Imran Khan falls off forklift; suffers injuries on his head

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan today suffered injuries on his head when he fell off a forklift that was hoisting him on to a stage for an election campaign meeting here in Pakistan.

Imran, 60, and several of his bodyguards apparently lost their balance and fell several feet to the ground.

Footage on television showed a dazed Khan, blood streaming from a wound on his head, being carried to a vehicle by several of his supporters.

The supporters bundled Khan into the vehicle and drove him to Shaukat Khanum Hospital.
The extent of his injuries could not immediately be ascertained. A spokesman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Party said that Imran was shifted to the hospital for treatment.
Hospital sources said he had sustained head injuries.

Former cricketer Abdul Qadir, who was present at the venue of the campaign meeting, said he had been told Khan had sustained injuries to the front and back of the head.
He said the persons on the forklift had lost their balance when someone tried to climb on it from below.

Leaders of Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party announced from the stage that he would return to address the meeting after being treated for his injuries.

A few days back, he had also fainted while addressing a rally in Punjab and doctors had advised him rest as he was suffering from exhaustion and stress. Imran's main political rival in this week's general election Nawaz Sharif, head of the PML N, was quick to issue a statement expressing his grief at the incident and praying for his quick recovery.

Imran's PTI has emerged as a strong party in the coming elections offering strong competition to the PML N and PPP.