RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The condition of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who sustained bullet injuries during an assassination attempt at a corner meeting in his constituency at Narowal on May 6, is improving.

“Ahsan Iqbal’s condition is much better and he is walking inside the room. He also waved to security personnel from the window of his hospital room,” Ahsan’s son Ahmad Iqbal told media on Friday.

Ahmad said while his father was en route to Lahore for medical treatment following an assassination attack, he chose to be treated at a government hospital to reinforce public trust in state-run healthcare facilities.

“This was despite the fact that all arrangements had been made at a private hospital in Lahore,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad further said that doctors will review his father’s health condition on Saturday (today) while a medical board will meet on Monday after which the future course of action will be finalised.

Ahmad said, “A number of high-profile individuals came to see his father but doctors did not allow any interaction for fear of infection.”

He also appreciated that people ignored their political differences and expressed sympathy with his father.

Ahmad also called for an inquiry into the leak of the investigation video of the primary suspect. It may be added that the assailant, 21-year-old Abid Hussain, shot at Ahsan Iqbal from a distance of 15 yards as the latter entered his vehicle to leave the rally ground in Kanjrur tehsil. Ahsan Iqbal underwent two operations, one aimed at removing the bullet from his lower torso and the other to mend his broken elbow bone. He had sustained a fracture after the bullet scraped his elbow and then hit his lower abdomen.