Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, narrowly escaped an armed attack on his election office here on Monday in which two others were killed and three wounded.
Sheikh Rasheed was attacked by unknown gunmen on Monday 8th February 2010, at his party’s Rawalpindi election office.
He is contesting the bye-polls at NA-55 scheduled to be held later this month.Two of his bodyguards were killed in the attack while Sheikh Rasheed was injured.
Mr.Javed Qureshi said, “unidentified gunmen opened fire with Kalashnikovs. It was an assassination attempt. Ahmed was hurt but not by a bullet. Ahmed had apparently injured a foot when he fell over during the attack. As well as the two guards killed, two were wounded.”
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was the former Information Minister and Railway Minister.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have condemned the incident of firing on former minister and President Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. They ordered inquiry into the incident and sought a report from the law enforcement agencies.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered his provincial government to hold an immediate inquiry into the attack while members of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) walked out of the National Assembly in condemnation of the attack as Sheikh Rasheed was formerly a member of PML-Q before forming his own political party.
This attack will further raise political tensions in the state which are already up due to the by-elections to be held later this month.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Musharraf to hold another election in which PPP leadership should have been kept out of the elections; Benazir Bhutto should not have been allowed to return home and if back home should have been sent to jail so that she could not campaign for the party. Even if her party had won the majority in such scenario Mushararf should have been allowed to steal that majority like 2002. Those who live in the world of dreams can come up with magical solutions. Politicians who have to deal with the realities have to find solutions that deliver on the ground not in the blogosphere.
Sheikh Rashid Ex Information Minister and Ex Railway Minister of Pakistan in Musharraf regime was attacked on 8th Feb, 2009 at 6:10 PM when he was sitting in his election office. He survived in this attack. People here in Pakistan are thinking of motives behind this attack. Following are the few motives discussed.
1. As elections are going to take place so may be his opponents tried to kill him so that they can win. In this case Hanif Abbasi of PML (N) is the victim.
2. May be its done by Government of Punjab to delay the elections for now. Government of Punjab will attach Shekih Rashid for 2 reasons. One is to delay the elections so that in future Nawaz Sharif can take part in election. Secondly to prove their point in front of Supreme Court that elections at this stage can be dangerous for candidates.
3. May be Sheikh Rashid of Awami Muslim League has done that him self to gain popularity and sympathy of people. After this attack it’s for sure that he will win.
4. Act of terrorism. Like other happening in the country may be this was done by terrorists like Taliban.
Whatever the reasons and motives behind this attack, We the common people of Pakistan condemn this attack.