ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s motorcade was ambushed by at least five gunmen with AK-47s near Islamabad airport yesterday, sources told Arab News. Two bullets hit Gilani’s bullet-proof Mercedes on its front side window. There were no casualties.
Sources said Gilani was immediately shifted to another car and driven to Prime Minister House in Islamabad.
Chaklala Police claimed it had arrested three people before iftar but did not disclose their identity.
“Prime Minister Gilani is completely safe. No harm has been done to him or members of his entourage,” Information Minister Sherry Rehman almost screamed while giving details of the attack on the PM’s motorcade at Karal near Islamabad airport.
Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack days ahead of a presidential election, which is bound to compound the fears of investors and allies, who worry about chronic political instability and violence in the nuclear-armed country.
A Pakistani Taleban spokesman said Gilani was attacked because he was responsible for offensives against militants in the northwest. “We will continue such attacks on government officials and installations,” said Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan.
Pakistani Taleban and their Al-Qaeda allies have unleashed a wave of bomb attacks, including some on political leaders such as Bhutto over the past year.
— With input from agencies
