In a chilling reminder of the delicate balance between political aspirations and security concerns, Ecuador was shaken to its core when an attempt was made on the life of Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The incident serves as a stark reminder, the importance of close protection cannot be underestimated.

The Complex Landscape of Close Protection

Close protection, often referred to as executive protection, is an intricate dance of anticipation, strategy, and vigilance. It involves safeguarding high-profile individuals from a wide range of potential threats, from political adversaries to extremist elements. In the case of a Presidential candidate like Fernando Villavicencio, whose policies and ideas challenge the status quo, the need for a comprehensive security detail becomes even more critical.

Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been shot and wounded in the leg in an attack on his protest march in the eastern city of Wazirabad.

A senior aide told AFP news agency it was "an attempt to kill him", but police are yet to confirm that he was the target. Members of his PTI party said another four people were hurt in the shooting.

Mr Khan, 70, was leading the march on the capital Islamabad to demand snap elections after he was ousted in April. The former prime minister was seen being taken to a hospital in Lahore. A party spokesman said he had been hit in the shin. Another party leader, provincial health minister Yasmeen Rashid, said Mr Khan was in a stable condition.

The Haitian prime minister was forced to scramble to safety to avoid a string of gunfire during an assassination attempt on Saturday, video footage shows. Ariel Henry was leaving a church after taking part in an event commemorating the Caribbean country's independence when a gang of 'bandits and terrorists' tried to gun him down.

The failed shooting comes just five months after Haiti's President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in a predawn attack at his home. Video footage broadcast on social media showed Henry and his entourage scrambling toward their vehicles.

Gangs' hold on parts of Haiti has strengthened since the assassination of Moise in July. Police, who called Saturday's attack the work of 'armed groups,' were unable to immediately confirm casualties. 

Prior to the incident, a local gang boss had made threats against Henry in local media. The prime minister's office said arrest warrants had been issued for the suspects who fired on Henry's convoy. The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of officials in Haiti since Moise's assassination.