Suspect who shot Ahsan Iqbal affiliated with Tehreek-e-Labbaik: DC

The suspected gunman who was arrested for the assassination attempt on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, has shown his affiliation with Tehreek-e-Labbaik party (TLP).

In a report submitted by deputy commissioner of Narowal to Punjab chief secretary, it was revealed that the 21-year-old suspect, identified as Abid Hussain, is affiliated to TLP. However, the TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi, has condemned the attack in a statement and said his party has not authorized any of its workers to take up arms, Reuters reported.

Abid was arrested shortly after the attack on the interior minister by the police, while another suspect, Azeem, was also apprehended by police on Monday, local media reported. Azeem was allegedly Abid’s accomplice, who accompanied him to the site but had managed to escape after the incident took place.

The interior minister was attending the meeting in his constituency in Narowal district when he was shot in the right arm on Sunday evening. The minister, however, is said to be now in a stable condition.

The police took Abid into custody after workers of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, standing near him, tackled him. Malik Ahmed Khan, a spokesman for the Punjab government said, "The attacker was about to fire a second shot when police and people in the meeting overpowered him."

Abid carried a 30-bore weapon, which he pulled out and fired at the minister. He has later confessed that he had opened fire at Iqbal due to the Khatm-e-Nubuwat issue.