NAROWAL: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was injured during an assassination attempt at a corner meeting in his constituency Narowal here on Sunday.



The assailant 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.



The PML-N leader was shifted to the operation theater at Services Hospital in Lahore where a surgery to remove a bullet that had pierced into Iqbal's body is underway, sources within the hospital informed Geo News.

After the first surgery is completed, another operation on the federal minister's broken bone will be performed, said sources.

According to the hospital administration, both surgeries could take three hours to be completed.

An initial report issued by the police had said Iqbal's bone was fractured after he received a bullet in his right shoulder.



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.



A 30-bore pistol was recovered from the arrested suspect, confirmed DPO Kishwar. Abid is reportedly a resident of Narowal.



Iqbal was shifted to DHQ Hospital in Narowal immediately after the attack. His son, Ahmed, confirmed to Geo News that his father was conscious and out of danger.

After receiving initial medical treatment in Narowal, the interior minister was shifted to Services Hospital through a helicopter sent on the directives of the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudry, in an exclusive conversation with Geo News, said an investigation was underway into the incident.

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