LAHORE: Pakistan’s Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal, who survived an assassination attempt, is now in a satisfactory condition, media reported, citing hospital authorities and his son.
Iqbal, who was shot in the abdomen Sunday evening during a rally in his constituency Narowal, was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Services Hospital after his surgery was completed.
“My father is now out of danger,” Ahmed Iqbal, the minister’s son, told media.
However, Iqbal “will be kept [under observation] in the ICU for 24 hours”, the son added, voicing his appeal to people to pray for his father’s health and speedy recovery.
As reported earlier, the minister underwent two operations — one aimed at removing the bullet from Iqbal’s lower torso and the other to mend his broken elbow bone.
However, the bullet that entered Iqbal’s abdomen — specifically, the lower part of his stomach — was not removed, as per the doctors’ decision, for it was not harmful to him anymore and pulling it out at present could have proved to be risky.
“The decision to not remove the bullet was taken after consultation with medical professionals and senior doctors,” Ahmed Iqbal noted.
Police registered the FIR of the incident at Shah Ghareeb Police Station of Narowal.
The prime suspect Abid Hussain, 21, shot at the interior minister from a distance of 15 yards as the latter entered his vehicle to leave the rally ground in tehsil Kanjrur, confirmed DPO Imran Kishwar.
Workers of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz, 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.
A 30-bore pistol was recovered from the arrested suspect, confirmed DPO Kishwar. Abid is reportedly a resident of Narowal.
His sister informed the media that she has no idea why he would do such a thing, adding that he left home without informing anyone of his plans.
