ISLAMABAD:

The convoy of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar was attacked on Sunday, injuring two people. However, the speaker remained unharmed.

Akbar, who belongs to the PPP, was going to his constituency, Khawara, on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, to attend a political meeting when the incident took place. The injured PPP workers who were traveling with the loudspeaker were later shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

Speaking to Express News over phone, Chaudhry Latif Akbar said he had received threats from his opponents on social media for the past three days and had informed the police and relevant authorities about them, but no action was taken.

Tensions escalated after the attack, leading to a shootout between police and a group of Muslim conference workers who allegedly carried out the attack.

AC Rural Hammad Bashir said a small group fired shots and threw stones at the speaker’s convoy.

“One OPP worker sustained injuries from a bullet and another from a stone. Efforts are on to nab the assailants who also started firing at the police. Fortunately, no major injuries have been reported so far. The administration is taking steps to control situation,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the incident of firing on the speaker’s motorcade. He said the attack was a cowardly and evil act. He prayed for the recovery of the persons injured in the attack.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the firing incident. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure the speedy arrest of the attackers.