Pakistani Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal survived an assassination attempt but injured by a shot from the assassin. The assassination attempt occurred during a political rally near his hometown of Narowal. Mr. Iqbal was hit on his arm by a single bullet as he was leaving the meeting in Kanjrur Tehsil.
Police reported that the attacker, a 21-year-old youth Abid, has been arrested. Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan said Mr. Iqbal is out of danger.
A senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mr. Iqbal is in charge of the prestigious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and a close aide of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack and called for an immediate report into the incident from top police officials of Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif described the incident as an “assassination attempt”.
“Those who indulged in this heinous act will be brought to justice. PML-N will not be browbeaten into submission. I am personally overseeing the investigation”.
Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmad Khan confirmed the attack and arrest of the attackers. He said the minister is stable but being shifted to Lahore.
“Police are investigating the attack and we will know how he (attacker) was able to reach so close to the minister,” he said.
He said that the attacker was initially identified as Abid Hussian and his age was said to be between 20-22 years. He is said to be a resident of Narowal.
The Punjab government said that the suspect “is being interrogated by the police”.
Rana Manan, a lawmaker of Punjab assembly, said that Iqbal was about to sit in his vehicle when the attacker fired at him.
The attack on the interior minister denotes the issue of security of high-profile politicians ahead of the elections scheduled to be held after June.
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Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the incident and sent his best wishes for Iqbal’s early recovery.
Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and other Pakistan Peoples Party leaders also condemned the attack.
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