Ahsan Iqbal shot, injured in assassination bid

NAROWAL: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday wounded in an apparent assassination attempt while returning from Narowal after attending a corner meeting, ARY News reported.

The minister got injured due to gunshots fired by an assailant. He received bullet injury to his right arm. He was immediately transported to district headquarters hospital Narowal for medical treatment.

The incident took place while he was leaving after attending the meeting at MPA Rana Manan’s residence in Kanjrur town of Narowal.

Police sources said the assailant, who was arrested right after the incident, has been identified as Abid Hussain, 21.

Ahsan Iqbal was in stable condition, said hospital sources.

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

District Police Officer (DPO) Narowal Imran Kishwar confirmed that Ahsan Iqbal was out of danger.

He said bullet was fired from a distance of 15 yards. The assaulter was a local resident and he was shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation, he said adding that a 30-bore pistol was also recovered from him.

Sources said intelligence agencies had alerted Ahsan Iqbal five days ago for beefing up his personal security and avoid public gatherings. He was also reportedly told that an attack could take place in the Narowal rally.

Talking to ARY News, MNA Rana Mannan said the minister was also shot in the stomach.

Later, Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif sent a helicopter to transport Ahsan Iqbal from Narowal to Lahore.

This should be noted that a shoe was also hurled at the minister recently in February in the same district.

Son of the victim, Ahmed Iqbal has requested for prayers and said that by God’s grace his father was in stable condition.

Talking to a private channel, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that Ahsan Iqbal has received a bullet in his shoulder and he has been shifted to hospital.

Read More: Political, military leaders condemn gun attack on interior minister

He said the person, who carried out firing has been arrested.

“The minister luckily survived. Thank God he is out of danger,” Chaudhry said. 

Taking notice of the incident, Inspector General Punjab Police Arif Nawaz has sought report from the DPO and said strict action should be taken against the culprit.

Spokesperson Punjab Government Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan said medical treatment was provided to him and he will be further treated in Lahore.

Khan told Iqbal had been attending the meeting in his constituency in Narowal district when he was shot in the right arm.

“The attacker was about to fire a second shot when police and people in the meeting overpowered him,” Khan said, adding that Iqbal was undergoing surgery and confirming his life was not in danger.

In a confessionary statement to the police, the shooter said he attacked Ahsan Iqbal on the issue of Khatam-e-Nubuwwat (SAWW). He said nobody motivated him for this act and this was his personal thought.