ISLAMABAD, 31 July 2004 — Pakistan’s prime minister-designate, Shaukat Aziz, escaped an assassination attempt yesterday while on an election campaign. The suicide bomb attack was staged in Fetah Jhang, a small town in the north of the capital Islamabad, where he is contesting a by-election.
At least six people, including Aziz’s driver, were killed and 45 injured.
The secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Mushahid Hussein, said Aziz, who has been nominated prime minister by the ruling party, was coming toward his car after addressing a public rally when a man driving an explosives-laden car rammed it.
Aziz was accompanied by local leaders of the Muslim League. However, all of them were safe.
“People involved in today’s attack are those, who had tried to kill President Pervez Musharraf in December last year,” Mushahid said.
Musharraf survived two attempts on his life last December in the garrison town of Rawalpindi
Later speaking to reporters here, Aziz called the incident “tragic” and said it had claimed the lives of innocent people. He added that it had reinforced his resolve to serve Pakistan and the Islamic world.
“My morale is high and resolve further strengthened to serve my people,” he added.
President Musharraf condemned the attack and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its fight against terrorism. “These cowardly acts will not deter us from our fight against terror. Such dastardly acts are against the teachings of Islam,” he added.
Aziz is contesting by-elections from two constituencies. He is now a member of the Senate, or upper house of Parliament. In order to make himself eligible for the office of prime minister, Aziz needs to get himself elected as member of the National Assembly, or lower house.
