Pakistan Within Minister Ahsan Iqbal shot at election rally

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani Within Minister Ahsan Iqbal has been wounded by an unidentified attacker at an election rally in central Punjab province, essentially essentially based on officers.

Iqbal, fifty 9, changed into shot within the shoulder on Sunday after addressing the workforce gathered in his native Narowal district, Federal Minister Talal Chaudhry told native TV build Geo Data.

Jam Sajjad Hussain, a rescue services spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that Iqbal changed into entering into his automobile to leave the rally when a « young man » fired at him « several instances ».

« One bullet hit him within the left shoulder. He changed into transferred to the native district health facility, where he is being handled, » he added.

Provincial authorities and Iqbal’s son stated the minister had now now not suffered any existence-threatening wounds.

« He’s conscious and out of hazard, » Ahmad Iqbal told Geo Data.

As per the doctors at DHQ Narowal, the condition of @betterpakistan is out of hazard.

— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) May per chance per chance maybe honest 6, 2018

Tv footage showed a susceptible Iqbal being wheeled into the federal government-sail health facility following the assault.

Chaudhry stated that a minimal of one man had been arrested at the scene of the assault, alongside side that investigations were ongoing.

Pakistani Prime Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s office issued a assertion condemning the assault.

« The highest minister has called for an instantaneous fable into the incident from IG Police Punjab. »

Iqbal’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) birthday celebration will total its five-year tenure in government later this month, with Pakistan because of employ a overall parliamentary election in July.

Iqbal changed into made internal minister remaining year, nevertheless has been a member of the cupboard for the reason that PML-N got here into energy within the 2013 elections. He’s furthermore the head of the Ministry of Planning, Pattern and Reforms.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeera’s digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim