LAHORE – Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was discharged from Lahore’s Services Hospital on Monday days after he was injured in a gun attack during an election rally in his hometown Narowal.
The minister, who should feel himself the world’s one of the luckiest men as he escaped death when he was in the range of the attacker, unveiled the story behind the ‘big survival’.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/ahsan-iqbal-discharged-from-hospital-after-9-days/
The story was shared by Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, a senior journalist, during a current affairs programme on Dunya News, stating that when he went to the hospital to see Iqbal, the minister explained the whole episode. Shami said other dignitaries were also present in the hospital at that time.
“When I was set to leave the ceremony, a young man rushed towards me asking me to attend a phone call,” the interior minister said, adding that when he lifted his arm to take the phone close to his ear, the attacker opened fire at that time and the bullet hit his elbow.
“The bullet may cross into my chest if I was not hearing the phone call and it could lead to a big disaster,” Ahsan Iqbal said.
The security czar was targeted on May 6 in Kanjrur tehsil by a lone gunman who had managed to come close to him when the minister was about to leave a corner meeting. The attacker was subsequently arrested by vigilant security staff of the lawmaker.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pakistans-interior-minister-ahsan-iqbal-injured-in-gun-attack/
Iqbal was rushed to District Headquarters Hospital Narowal but was later airlifted to Services Hospital on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif.
The 22-year-old man, identified as Abid Hussain, confessed to opening fire on the minister over allegations of blasphemy.
After being discharged from the hospital, Iqbal visited his mother’s grave at the Johar Town following which he would be heading to Islamabad.
Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Iqbal’s son, Ahmed Iqbal, thanked newsmen for their “genuine concern and responsible reporting.”
The interior minister underwent multiple surgeries and according to Services Hospital’s officials, he is in a lot better shape than before.
The Punjab government has constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The JIT will be convened by Additional Inspector General Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Muhammad Tahir.
The JIT will include SSP Gujranwala Khalid Bashir Cheema, Counter Terrorism Team Gujranwala SP Faisal Gulzar Awan and one official each of the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence.
