Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Wednesday narrowly escaped a life attempt when some assailants opened fire on him near Melody market, just few yards away from the Aabpara police station. However, the minister’s driver identified as Muhammad Yunus lost his life in the incident and the security guard was seriously injured in an apparent targeted attempt.
Kazmi had just left his office in Melody when the assailants opened fire on his car in the busy chowk adjacent to Argentina Park, killing the driver and injuring the Minister and a security guard.
The minister received injuries on his left knees and he was stated stable by the Doctors at Federal Government Services Hospital after necessary treatment.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Tahir Alam Khan said that assailants had ambushed the official vehicle of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, leaving his driver dead on the spot and injuring the minister and his gunman.
The SSP said assailants were not outsiders as they might be local and insiders. “It is not the incident committed by some outsiders. There is some group inside here,” he maintained.
However, the eye witnesses opined that the assailants had chased the vehicle of the minister and later opened indiscriminate fire at the vehicle and fled away on motorbike.
Kazmi, also a renowned religious scholar, belongs to a respected religious family of Multan and his father an eminent religious scholar had a huge following across the country. Kazmi was elected as MNA on PPPP ticket from Rahim Yar Khan district.
Soon after the incident, Ministers, the top government functionaries and large number of people from different walks of life reached the hospital to enquire about the health of the Minister.
Talking to mediapersons, Minister for Health Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani said, Mr Kazmi was being operated at Poly Clinic while efforts are being made to save the life of gunman who received three bullet injuries.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf also reached the hospital and condemned the incident. He said the government would not bow to the terrorists and eliminated them at every cost.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik also visited the hospital to enquire about the health of Minister for Religious Affairs.
Malik termed the incident ‘an attempt of target killing’ and reiterated the firm resolve of the government to continue fight against terrorism.
Talking to the journalists here at Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH), the minister informed that Kazmi was operated upon and his condition was “stable”.
“The driver of the minister has embraced Shahadat in the attack while the gunman is injured and is being operated upon. He is under observation,” he added.
He said the terrorists would be searched in every nook and corner and would be taken to task. He assured an early arrest of the culprits and bring them to justice.
Following the incident the security was beefed up in the federal capital as the Islamabad Police also arrested few suspects.
“A few suspects have been arrested on doubt of their involvement in the incident,” the police spokesman stated.
He said raids are being conducted while checking has been enhanced at all the entry and exit points of capital. “Few arrests have been made and security has been further beefed up,” he added.
Extra police force has also been deployed at the public and sensitive places to further enhance security and to protect the life and property of the citizens, the spokesman maintained.
The police have also recovered a bag with two pistols, one kalashnikov and one hand grenade from the site of attack.
According to sources, the police have started checking of hotels and guest houses and public places in the Federal Capital.
Police patrolling has been enhanced in order to avert any untoward situation and have been directed to remain vigil and further enhance the security at all public and sensitive places.
Rehman terms attack on Kazmi ‘target killing bid’
Minister for Interior Rehman Malik Wednesday termed the life attempt on Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi a ‘target killing’ bid, saying that the minister sustained a bullet injury in left leg.Talking to the journalists here at Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH), the minister informed that Kazmi was operated upon and his condition was “stable”.
“The driver of the minister has embraced Shahadat in the attack while the gun man is injured and is being operated upon. He is under observation,” he added.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also termed the attack on Religious Minister as a targeted attack, saying that the minister was being hurled threats for some time.
“This (attack) is a result of Malakand Operation (against the miscreants), however, such acts of cowardice cannot deter the resolve of the nation against terrorism,” he added.
Minister for Health Aijaz Jakhrani said that Hamid Saeed Kazmi was given the best possible treatment and he was now stable and conscious.
“The entire nation is united against the terrorists. The fight against terrorists would continue till the last terrorist is tracked down,” he added.
Jakhrani termed the incident a ‘targeted killing’ bid, however, ruled out the notion of a security lapse.
“We would reinforce the security for ministers,” he added.
Attack on Hamid Saeed condemned
Federal Minister for Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Federal Minister for SAFRON Najmuddin Khan and Federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr. Firdous Aashiq Awan said that the terrorists were enemies of Pakistan and Islam, and people of Pakistan must unite together to give the terrorists strong message that their acts of violence were hated by them.
They expressed firm resolve of the government to continue its war against terrorism till its end and restoration of complete normalcy in the country.
Meanwhile, in their separate messages, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Syed Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari, Minister of State for Interior, Tasneam A. Qureshi, Minister of State for Religious Affairs, Shagufta Jumani and Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Azeem Daultana expressed sorrow over the killing of Hamid Saeed’s driver by assailants and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and speedy recovery of the injured persons.
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