Lahore :  Pakistan’s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was stable as he underwent two surgeries today after being shot in an assassination bid by a religious fanatic in Punjab province weeks ahead of the general election, as a second suspect has been arrested in the incident.

 Iqbal, 59, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, was hit by a bullet on his right shoulder in the attack on Sunday after he addressed an election rally in his constituency Narowal. An official at the Services Hospital here said that the surgery was successful and Iqbal is recovering well.

“Iqbal is out of danger and recovering fast,” he added. Iqbal underwent two consecutive surgeries and has now been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.”The abdominal laparoscopy of Iqbal has been performed. Bullet has not breached peritoneum and all intra-abdominal organs are intact. No expanding hematoma. Decision not to remove the bullet from his abdomen has been taken by the group of senior doctors considering that it may lead to more tissue damage,” the official of the hospital where the procedure was performed told PTI.

He said the bullet had also penetrated the right elbow joint of the minister.

Meanwhile, police have booked suspect Abdi Hussain, 21, under attempted murder and terrorism charges of Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act. Azeem, an accomplice of Hussain, who attended the rally along with him has also been arrested.

A 30-bore pistol with nine bullets in it was recovered from the arrested suspect.

Iqbal was leaving a venue after addressing the election rally in his hometown Narowal, some 80 kms from here, on Sunday at 6.15pm when Hussain opened fire at him, injuring his arm and abdomen. Narowal senior police officer Imran Kishwar said the suspect did not get a second chance to open fire on Iqbal.