Security czar survives attempt on life

Young attacker overpowered soon after he fired gunshot at minister; doctors say he is out of danger

LAHORE: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal survived an assassination attempt in his home constituency during a corner meeting at the hands of a 23-year-old man on Sunday evening.

A bullet hit Iqbal’s right arm from a 30-bore pistol from at least 15 yards.

Doctors said that the minister was out of danger and in a stable condition.

He underwent medical treatment at the Lahore Services Hospital.

The accused, Abid Hussain, a resident of Kanjror, a village in Tehsil Shakargarh, opened fire at Iqbal just before he stepped inside his vehicle after addressing at Kanjror.

Hussain, who was overpowered and disarmed by security guards before he could fire another shot, was later handed over to police.

Later, the suspect was shifted to an unidentified location for interrogation.

Police also seized the weapon.

After the incident, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot and helped collect forensic evidence from the crime scene and recorded eyewitness statements.

Ahsan Iqbal was initially rushed to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Narowal, where he received first aid before he was flown to the Lahore Services Hospital in a helicopter sent by Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif.

When the minister arrived at the hospital in Lahore, Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, IGP Arif Nawaz, and others were present.

He was shifted to the hospital’s surgical unit.

A police investigation is under way.

A senior police officer told The Express Tribune that the accused had targeted PML-N leader as an act of reprisal for his alleged role in amending Namoos-e-Risalat clause in the election bill.



However, both factions of Tehreek-e-Labbaik , one led by Khadim Rizvi and the other by Ashraf Asif Jalali, denied any link with the accused.

A few months ago, Iqbal’s house was besieged by an unruly mob for the same reason. The mob, armed with clubs and stones, later stormed the house.

Earlier, a man had hurled a shoe at Iqbal.



He was not the only leader of PML-N who was attacked for the same reason.

Two men had hurled shoes at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at Jamia Naeemia in Garhi Shahu.

Another man had thrown ink on the face of Khawaja Asif.

When the operation was launched against the sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, not only houses of PML-N leaders were attacked, but they were also physically attacked by mobs.



On the matter of security lapse, spokesperson for the Punjab government Malik Ahmad said that there had been no deviation from the security protocol specified for the interior minister.

However, the meeting was held in the minister’s home constituency where politicians usually wanted close contact with their voters and supporters. The same was the case at the time of the incident, he said.

Condemnations:

Condemning the assassination attempt, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked the Punjab police chief to submit an immediate report on the incident.



DG ISPR Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor quoted Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying that he (the COAS) condemned the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and expressed his best wishes for an early recovery.

The United States also condemned the attack on the country’s security czar. “The US condemns the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal today. We wish him a speedy recovery,” Ambassador David Hale said in a statement.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the attack on the federal minister’s life.

The chief minister also sought a report from the IG Punjab and ordered the authorities concerned to take immediate action in this regard.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran condemned the attack.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, saying, “We have to put a stop to such incidents.”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also denounced the attack and prayed for the minister’s quick recovery.



Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah also condemned the assassination attempt on Iqbal. He also called for a detailed report into the attack.

“This incident has raised a major question mark on the security situation in the country and there is a dire need to have foolproof security arrangements in place for the upcoming general elections,” Shah said.

Leader of the Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman prayed for the minister’s early recovery and expressed solidarity with his family.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry also slammed the incident.

Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said: “I am shocked and saddened at the attack on Ahsan Iqbal. This is a cowardly act which will not deter him. I pray for his full and quick recovery. May Allah protect us all.”