Imran Khan badly hurt after falling from forklift

The extent of his injuries could not immediately be ascertained

In a freak accident, cricketer- turned-politician Imran Khan was on Tuesday badly hurt and received head injuries when he fell off a forklift that was hoisting him on to a stage during an election campaign meeting here.     

Imran, 60, fell from the forklift along with his security guards from 14-15 feet height after a sudden imbalance of the wood planks on the lifter due to an increase in weight as his security personnel accompanied him towards the stage.

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. Imran's Tehreek-e-Insaaf Party (PTI) has emerged as a strong party in the May 11 general elections offering strong competition to the PML-N and the PPP.

Khan was initially transported to Jinnah hospital and was later transferred to Shaukat Khanum hospital, heavily strapped and with his head covered in bandages. Khan sustained injuries on his head and back, hospital sources said. They also said that Khan had to have as many as 16 stitches due to the injuries he sustained at back of his head.

A spokesman of PTI said that Imran was shifted to the hospital for treatment.

Famous singer and PTI leader Abrarul Haq has said the party chief is out of danger and stable now at the hospital. Many others close to the PTI chairman, including his ex-wife Jemima Khan, confirmed that Khan was out of danger, Dawn News reported.

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 elections 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.