LAHORE (PAKISTAN) - Pakistan's interior minister was recovering in hospital Monday after being shot in a suspected assassination attempt possibly linked to blasphemy, with the attack seen as a "bad omen" for nationwide elections. Iqbal, known as a champion of Pakistan's much-persecuted religious minorities, was heavily involved in the negotiations at the time. The court banned Sharif from politics for life, while foreign minister Khawaja Asif was also ousted by the Islamabad High Court late last month for violating election laws. Blasphemy can be punishable by death under controversial Pakistani legislation, with even unproven allegations sparking mob lynchings and murders. Iqbal, touted as a potential prime minister when Sharif was ousted last July, is a US-educated lawmaker from a political family long associated with the PML-N.

Source: Bangkok Post May 07, 2018 05:37 UTC