A spokesman of the Prime Minister House has confirmed the attack on the motorcade of the Prime Minister, saying that the Prime Minister "is safe and in high spirits". A case has been registered at Kral Chowk police station.
Gilani's spokesman initially said he was in the vehicle but later declined to confirm that, amid the confusion surrounding the shooting in Rawalpindi. The Prime Minister was returning to Islamabad from Chaklala Airbase after completing his Lahore visit. The security officials, accompanying the motorcade, returned the fire.
The security forces escorted the Prime Minister to Islamabad via "a safe passage", the police sources said. Officials further said another car in the convoy was also hit by several bullets. There were no reports of injuries.
This was the same location from where Nawaz Sharif's election rally was fired upon on December 27, 2007, the same day Pakistan People's Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide bomb attack as well as a firing incident during her election rally at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi.
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) had recovered three explosive laden vehicles from the same area on June 6 this year, carrying more than 1,100 kilograms of high explosives. It is believed that the assailants, who targeted Prime Minister Gilani's vehicle, were highly skilled shooters as they hit the window of the vehicle, which was running at a speed of 150 to 200 kilometres per hour. Police and other law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the area after the incident.
Three suspects were arrested from the area during the search operation launched by the police and other law-enforcement agencies from the area, police sources said. But they declined to give any details regarding the possible recovery of ammunition from the detained persons.
This is being seen as a major security lapse in a very high security zone. All the roads leading to a VVIP route are routinely closed and security personnel are deployed on the entire route.
Taking serious note of the attack on Prime Minister Gilani, Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik constituted a high level investigation team to be headed by Director General, National Police Bureau (NPB) Tariq Masood Khosa and asked the investigators to submit the preliminary report in 24 hours. He said that people from Intelligence Bureau (IB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other law enforcement will assist Tariq Khosa.
He directed the Islamabad IGP to make a speedy arrest of the culprits. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told journalists that there were three bullet-proof cars, moving along with the rest of the motorcade to hide the identity of the Prime Minister. And only the last car was hit by bullets. He also said that the Prime Minister was not in the car as he was still in Lahore and the motorcade was travelling from the PM House to Airport.