Shbeilat, an advocate of limiting the king’s powers and turning Jordan into a constitutional monarchy, was stoned Saturday night as he spoke at a rally in the Jerash area, 30 km north of the capital Amman.

Local reports said that several people were hurt in the assault, but Shbeilat, a former president of the powerful Jordan Engineers Association, was uninjured.

The incident drew sharp criticism from the Islamic-led opposition and pro-reform movements, who conducted protests in several localities to condemn the attack.

"What happened proves that the country’s main institutions have lost their credibility and the ability to carry out their constitutional duties, leaving the decision-making to people of security mentality,” said Zaki Bani Rsheid, head of the Political Department at the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the Brotherhood’s political arm.

He charged that the authorities were resorting to "mob tactics and provocation” to derail political reforms demanded by the people.

Shbeilat, an independent politician, was imprisoned in the 1990’s after he was condemned on charges of acting to undermine the country’s regime, but was pardoned by the late King Hussein.

He was also the target of an attack by unknown elements in 2009 which he blamed on the country’s security authorities.