Lahore(May 07, 2018): Lahore High Court adjourned the hearing of contempt case against Interior Minister, Ahsan Iqbal on Monday for 15 days, as Ahsan Iqbal failed to appear before the court due to failed assassination attack yesterday.
According to the details, Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi filed a petition against Ahsan Iqbal, stating that he disgraced CJP in his recent statements.
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On the other hand, full-member bench headed by Justice Muzahir Ali Akbar heard the case during which, applicant Azhar Siddiq said that Iqbal criticized judiciary and used indecent language against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar.
He further said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had on-aired his speech despite ban. He requested the court to launch contempt of court case against Ahsan Iqbal and ordered PEMRA to stop broadcast of such speeches.
The claimant also appealed to disqualify the interior minister under article 63, 64 and took back all the salary and other incentives from him that he received from 2008 to 2018.
LHC has summoned Ahsan Iqbal on May 7 in contempt of court case.
It is worthwhile to mention here that on April 26, Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had criticised Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar for allegedly leveling baseless allegation against him.
Addressing a seminar in Islamabad, Iqbal said that the chief justice had “no right to calling-name people”. “You [Justice Nisar] must issue me a charge sheet. If you have evidence, produce it before me. But enough is enough,” Iqbal challenged.
“The chief justice can sit on the bench [and raise allegations]… Ahsan Iqbal had appointed a vice chancellor on someone’s patronage… Mr Chief Justice have a heart. If you can feel disrespected, we too, have feelings and respect,” he said.
Earlier, the chief justice had suspended Prof Uzma Qureshi, the vice chancellor of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU). Justice Nisar also said that he had full knowledge about the role of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal in her appointment.
During the hearing, when asked about her relation with the interior minister, Prof Qureshi had said that Iqbal was the student of her father. “Attempts have been made to malign me,” she maintained.
CJP Nisar had observed that the court could not tolerate any appointment made without transparency.
A two-judge bench headed by the chief justice was hearing a suo motu case about the appointment of vice-chancellors at the public universities.
It may be recalled, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was injured in an assassination attempt after addressing a rally in Narowal’s tehsil Kanjrur on Sunday.
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The assailant Abid Hussain, 21, shot at the interior minister from a distance of 15 yards as the latter entered his vehicle to leave the rally ground in tehsil Kanjrur, confirmed DPO Imran Kishwar.
An initial report issued by the police said Iqbal’s bone was fractured after he received a bullet in his right shoulder.
Ahsan Iqbal undergone surgeries at Services Hospital Lahore, after which his is now satisfactory, said his son.
Iqbal, who was shot in the arm Sunday evening during a rally in his constituency Narowal, was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after his surgery was completed.
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Ahmed Iqbal, the son of Ahsan Iqbal said that “My father is now out of danger.”
However, “he will be kept under observation in the ICU for 24 hours”, he added while appealing people to pray for his health and speedy recovery.
As reported earlier, the minister underwent two operations — one aimed at removing the bullet from Iqbal’s lower torso and the other to mend his broken elbow bone.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and sought a report from Inspector General (IG) Punjab.
PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi directed the authorities to leave ‘no stone unturned’ finding the perpetrators behind the attack.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif telephoned Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal and enquired about his health.
Nawaz Sharif asked the federal government to investigate assassination attempt on Interior minister.
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Those who attacked Ahsan Iqbal will be brought to justice, stated Nawaz sharif.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the gun attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal.
“COAS condemns firing on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Expresses best wishes for early recovery,” Maj-Gen Asif Ghaffor tweeted.
COAS condemns firing on Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Expresses best wishes for early recovery.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 6, 2018
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the attack on interior minister is tantamount to attack on the State. 
While condemning the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demanded investigations and urged the authorities to bring the culprit to justice as soon as possible.
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