Pakistan minister who oversees Chinese projects recovering after assassination attempt
Pakistani Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal wounded in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman linked to a new ultra-religious Muslim party – an incident likely to raise tensions before an election expected in late July
Pakistan’s interior minister was recovering in hospital Monday after being shot in a suspected assassination possibly linked to blasphemy, with the attack seen as a “bad omen” for nationwide elections.
Ahsan Iqbal, 59, was shot in the right arm as he prepared to leave a public meeting in his constituency in Punjab province late Sunday.
A man identified by police only as “Abid” and said to be in his early 20s was wrestled to the ground by police and bystanders as he was preparing to fire a second shot.
He has been taken in to custody.
The party calls for the aggressive enforcement of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which can carry the death penalty.