Marriyum strongly condemns incident of firing on Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday strongly condemned the incident of firing on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, terming the attack on the minister as highly unfortunate.

She was expressing her views at different television channels after the incident of firing on the Interior Minister.

The minister said, “Today we have to think that we should not do politics on everything. There is a difference between protocol and security and as politicians, civil society and media we have to lay down some principles. The security is right of those persons who are a tough target, hot target and a direct target.”

Ahsan Iqbal was hit by bullet on his left arm. On the advice of doctors he was shifted to Lahore, Marriyum informed.       She said according to initial investigation, a 21 year old youth fired at the minister while he was coming out after attending a programme of Christian community. Investigation was continuing to ascertain the causes of firing and it was too early to say anything.

“Allah may always keep Ahsan Iqbal in His protection. We pray for his early recovery and health. Ahsan Iqbal has rendered great service for the people,” she said, adding people have special love for Ahsan Iqbal for his efforts to put Pakistan on the road to development and prosperity.

She narrated that four days back, a news was being aired on a television channel, repeatedly showing the vehicles of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as his protocol. Marriyum said the opponents who called for withdrawal of security should think that politics on this issue was dangerous.

The armed forces, law enforcement agencies and people had given exemplary sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Everybody should think over the matter and avoid politics on it.

Opponents should do politics on basis of performance and look at the situation of the country where operations Zarb e Azb and Operation Rudd ul Fasaad were continuing, she added.

The minister said the current government had checked terrorism in its tracks, adding that the previous government also acted against this menace. “But the action of the current democratic dispensation is the most effective. PMLN government waged a war against terrorism and took a strong stand on the situation in Karachi,” she added.