RAWALPINDI: Former information minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was injured while four people, including two of his bodyguards were killed when gunmen opened fire at his party’s election office on Monday.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed —APP/File Photo
The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief was at his party’s Rawalpindi election office for the on-going by-elections when unknown gunmen attacked the office, according to a DawnNews report. Four party workers, including two of Rasheed’s bodyguards were killed in the attack and the former federal minister was injured but is said to be in stable condition.
The identity of the gunmen, who opened fire at AML office, was not known but the violence is likely to raise political tension.
Ahmed was hurt but not by a bullet, an aide, Javed Qureshi, told Reuters. Ahmed had apparently injured a foot when he fell over during the attack, he said.
“Unidentified gunmen opened fire with Kalashnikovs. It was an assassination attempt,” Qureshi said.
Police had earlier said Ahmed had been wounded in the shooting.
Ahmed was information and railways minister in the previous government, led by former president Pervez Musharraf. He lost his seat in parliament in a February 2008 general election.
He left the former ruling party and set up his own after the 2008 election.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered his provincial government to hold an immediate inquiry into the attack while members of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) walked out of the National Assembly in condemnation of the attack.
Sheikh Rasheed was formerly a member of PML-Q before forming his own political party in 2008.
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