Pakistan Interior Minister Shot in Suspected Assassination Bid

The Punjab government in Pakistan said that one of the shooters has been arrested and is being interrogated.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot and injured in a suspected assassination bid on Sunday, 6 May, after he addressed a rally in Punjab province in the country, the police said. Iqbal, 59, sustained a bullet wound on his right shoulder.

He was attending a corner meeting in Narowal's Kanjrur Tehsil when the incident occurred, the police was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

He was shifted to the district headquarters hospital, the report said. Family sources confirmed that the Interior Minister is subsequently being shifted to Lahore.

The suspect has reportedly been taken into custody, according to the police. District police officer Imran Kishwar said that the attacker used a 30-bore pistol to fire at Iqbal from a distance of around 18 metres.

One of the shooter has been arrested and being interrogated by the police. Ahsan Iqbal is being treated at DHQ hospital Narowal.

— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) May 6, 2018

Confirming the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudhry said Iqbal was out of danger. The arrested suspect is 20-22 years old, he added.

Punjab’s Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack saying:

Strongly condemn the assassination attempt on my friend Ahsan Iqbal... Just spoke to him & he is in high spirits MashaAllah ... Those who indulged in this heinous act will be brought to justice... PMLN will not be browbeaten into submission... Prayers for quick recovery!! -ss

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 6, 2018

Corner meetings become common as elections come close, with politicians interacting with supporters and common people.

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