Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): President Mamnoon Hussain, leaders of political parties and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa have condemned the attack by lone assassin on Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal.
COAS condemns firing on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Expresses best wishes for early recovery.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 6, 2018
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ordered the Inspector General of Punjab to “trace the attack planners and submit report in 24 hours”.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, in a tweet, condemned the attack
Strongly condemn attack on Ahsan Iqbal today.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 6, 2018
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the attack, praying for the minister’s speedy recovery.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari has also condemned the attack on Ahsan Iqbal. “We have to put a stop to such incidents” said the PPP co-chairman.
سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری کی احسن اقبال پر فائرنگ کی مذمت۔
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 6, 2018
اس طرح کے واقعات کو روکنا ہوگا ۔ آصف علی زرداری
وزیر داخلہ پر حملہ تشویش ناک ہے ۔آصف زرداری
آصف زرداری کی احسن اقبال کی صحت یابی کی دعا
“Hope he recovers soon and thoughts, prayers with his family,” said Leader of the Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman.
Shocking and totally condemnable attack on Int Min Ahsan Iqbal. Wishing him a speedy recovery. Political differences notwithstanding, physical targeting of any politician is simply not acceptable. Sadly, intolerance and violence are becoming endemic in our society.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 6, 2018
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry strongly condemned the attack in a tweet.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot and injured by unknown assailants on Sunday.
PTI strongly condemn Attack on Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, culprit must be apprehended as son as possible pic.twitter.com/xsBTUWOJ9S
— Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 6, 2018
According to initial reports, Iqbal was leaving after attending a public rally in Kanjrur, an area of Narowal, when unknown armed man attacked him. The minister received a bullet wound at his arm.
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
He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital.
According to DPO Imran Kishwar, the assailant, aged between 20-22 years, shot four bullets at the interior minister as he was sitting in his vehicle.
