Man who shot Pakistan interior minister linked to ‘blasphemy-fighting’ religious group
A police report said the shooter was Abid Hussain, 21, who is affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Labaik party, which which focuses on highlighting and fighting blasphemy
The man believed to have shot Pakistani Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday was affiliated to the new ultra-religious Tehreek-e-Labaik party, according to a police report seen by Reuters.
The report said the shooter was Abid Hussain, 21, who “showed his affiliation” to the party, which focuses on highlighting and fighting blasphemy. It did not speculate on his motive.
Labaik’s leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, condemned the attack in a statement and said his party had not authorised any of its workers to take up arms.
Iqbal was been shot at a public meeting in Punjab province but will survive, his aide said earlier on Sunday.
“Ahsan Iqbal was targeted and shot in the arm,” Asim Khan, a special aide to the politician, told Agence France-Presse. “He is out of danger and being taken to a medical facility in Lahore. The attacker has been arrested.”