ISLAMABAD -- Members of Pakistan's parliament united to condemn an assassination attempt on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and warned that it could be an attempt to delay upcoming general elections, Dawn reported Monday (May 7).
Iqbal, 59, was shot in the arm Sunday (May 6) while leaving a public meeting close to his hometown of Narowal. He was recovering from surgery Monday.
Members of the National Assembly and Senate called for an investigation and for the arrest of the perpetrators.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced that he had ordered all provincial chief secretaries and inspectors general of police (IGPs) to ensure the security of members of parliament in the run-up to the elections.
The incident was very unfortunate, he said, adding that attacks carried out in the name of religion must end.
Opposition members condemned the shooting but criticised the government for not fully implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) against extremists.
