A senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and ally of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, was shot by a gunman on Sunday as he left a constituency meeting in Punjab province. Iqbal is currently in the hospital recovering from a bullet wound, and Minister of State for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry reported that he is stable and in good spirits. Leaders from various opposition parties in Pakistan have all condemned the assassination attempt. However, a high-ranking official from Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party suggested that the attack was a result of large rallies protesting Sharif's removal by the Supreme Court in July. "We strongly condemn it. However, the political atmosphere is being greatly affected by Nawaz's unfounded accusations against his opponents, causing tension and anger everywhere," stated Naeem ul Haq, chief of staff for former cricket star Khan. "If Nawaz Sharif continues to spread negativity, such incidents will persist." Last July, Pakistan's Supreme Court removed Sharif as prime minister due to a minor case of unreported income. He is currently facing trial in an anti-corruption court, although his party still has a majority in parliament. Sharif has criticized the court's decision as a plot orchestrated by rival Khan, frequently rallying his supporters to express his grievances. He has also portrayed Khan as a puppet of the influential military establishment, known for interfering in Pakistani politics. Khan denies collaborating with the military and the military denies involvement in political affairs. The attack on Sunday has caused heightened anxiety leading up to the upcoming election in late July. Initial reports indicate that the attacker may have ties to a new Islamist political party that advocates for the death penalty for blasphemy and strict sharia law. The party, Tehreek-e-Labaik, denies any connection to the attacker according to a local administrator's report seen by Reuters. "We do not have weapons. We are engaged in a nonviolent battle. Those plotting against Tehreek-e-Labaik will not prevail." Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the leader of the party, denounced the attack on Iqbal, stating that Labaik is peacefully working to establish the Prophet's religion. The police confirmed that Iqbal was shot in the right arm, with the bullet entering his groin. The suspected shooter, identified as 21-year-old Abid Hussain, has not had a motive officially reported. Minister of state Chaudhry stated that there is a history of religious radicalism in the background of the suspect, and other individuals have also been taken into custody as police investigate various groups that may have influenced the attack. He emphasized that radicalism is not just an individual problem, but rather a societal issue that is cultivated by others. Labaik, the group responsible for the attack, was formed during a protest movement in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who killed the governor of Punjab in 2011 over his stance on blasphemy laws. The movement caused major disruptions in the country's capital last year during protests against changes to electoral laws. The recent assassination attempt on Iqbal has raised concerns about potential violence by Islamist groups leading up to the upcoming elections, recalling the tragic events of the past, such as the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007.