Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s federal interior minister, survived an assassination attempt Sunday in the central Punjab province.

Police confirmed the attack, saying the minister sustained a bullet injury in his right shoulder. Iqbal was quickly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where doctors described his condition as stable.

Iqbal was shot at twice while he was boarding his vehicle after attending a public meeting in his native town of Narowal.

The lone assassin, in his early 20s, has been arrested and his weapon seized, a senior district police official told reporters. The officer said the shooter is a local resident who is being probed to determine the motive.

Sunday’s incident comes as Iqbal’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, or PML-N Party, is due to complete its tenure later this month before the country holds new elections.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack in a statement and asked the police to immediately submit their report on the incident.

 
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