Gun attack on Pak minister deepens political divisions as election nears

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FE Team | Published: May 08, 2018 22:17:50

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ISLAMABAD, May 08 (Reuters): An assassination attempt on a minister has deepened divisions ahead of Pakistan's coming elections, with an Islamist party denying involvement and an opposition figure blaming it on fiery rhetoric by the ousted premier.Islamist leader accused of shooting minister
A gunman on Sunday shot interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and ally of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as he was leaving a constituency meeting in Punjab province.
Iqbal was recovering in hospital from a bullet wound on Monday. Minister of state for interior affairs Talal Chaudhry said he was stable and in "high spirits".
Leaders from Pakistan's main opposition parties all condemned the assassination attempt. But a prominent official of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party said Sharif had created the backdrop for the attack at large rallies protesting his removal by the Supreme Court last July.
"We condemn it with full force. But the political climate is being seriously affected by Nawaz's wild accusations against his opponents and creating tension and anger all over," said Naeem ul Haq, chief of staff for former cricket star Khan.
"So if Nawaz [Sharif] continues to utter poison, such incidents will continue to occur."
Pakistan's Supreme Court disqualified Sharif as prime minister last July over a small source of unreported income and he is currently on trial before an anti-corruption court, though his party still holds a majority in parliament.