Interior Minister shot at and injured in assassination bid in Narowal; suspected gunman arrested

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal came under gun attack and got injured at a corner meeting in Narowal's Kanjrur tehsil on Sunday.

The incident took place when Iqbal was leaving the meeting which was being held at the provincial assembly member Rana Manan’s residence. 

Federal Minister Interior Ahsan Iqbal was taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment. He will be immediately flown to Lahore on special instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif pic.twitter.com/yfWBQKawUu

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 6, 2018

Police said the minister suffered a bullet wound to his right arm. Iqbal was shifted to the hospital immediately after the attack. His son, Ahmed, confirmed his father was conscious and out of danger.

"He is receiving initial medical treatment at DHQ Hospital in Narowal," Ahmed told a news channel, adding that his father would be shifted to Lahore for further medical aid. 

Punjab Chief Minister and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif, after a telephonic contact with the minister, sent his special helicopter to airlift Iqbal to Lahore.

The suspected shooter was taken into custody. He was identified as a local 20 to 22-year-old youth residing in the jurisdiction of the Shah Gharib police station in Kanjrur tehsil.

Workers of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), standing near the assailant, tackled the man after he opened fire at Iqbal, said Punjab Government Spokesperson Malik Ahmed Khan. He further said the suspect was stopped from firing a second shot. 

Chief Minister Punjab has sought a report from IG Punjab & has directed the authorities to take action against the culprit.

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

The Inspector General of Punjab Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan summoned a report from Narowal DPO Kishwar. The police chief issued orders to take strict legal action against the suspect.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ordered the Inspector General of Punjab to “trace the attack planners and submit the report in 24 hours”.

Condemnation

Leaders of political parties and people from different walks of life condemned the attack on the interior minister. 

COAS condemns firing on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Expresses best wishes for early recovery.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 6, 2018

Strongly condemn attack on Ahsan Iqbal today.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 6, 2018

Strongly condemn the attack on interior minister Ashan Iqbal praying for his swift recovery IA . There needs to be a complete and thorough investigation into incident. https://t.co/pRDCYXAosj

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 6, 2018

وفاقی وزیر داخلہ احسن اقبال پر حملہ انتہائی قابل مذمت ہے۔ ہم ان کی جلد اور مکمل صحت یابی کے لیے دعا گو ہیں۔ حملہ آور کو قرار واقعی سزا دی جائے۔

— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) May 6, 2018

“ The United States condemns the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal today. We wish him a speedy recovery. Ambassador David Hale” #AhsanIqbal #USEmbassyIsb pic.twitter.com/CcxgUmUknF

— US Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) May 6, 2018