Pakistani religion minister wounded in ambush
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD — Gunmen opened fire on a vehicle carrying Pakistan’s religious affairs minister Wednesday, wounding him and killing his driver.

The attack on Hamid Saeed Kazmi took place close to his office in the capital, Islamabad.

Dr. Masood Pasha said Kazmi was shot in the leg and was in stable condition.

Kazmi had been critical of Islamist militants blamed for scores of attacks in Pakistan over the last 2 1/2 years.

The shooting was another reminder of the precarious security situation in the nuclear-armed country. It took place as security agencies in the capital were on high alert amid fears of revenge attacks by Taliban militants following the Aug. 5 killing of their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, in a CIA missile strike.

Kazmi’s guard was also wounded in the attack, said Pasha.

Police officer Muntizar Hassan said the driver of the vehicle was killed on the spot.

TV images showed several bullet holes in vehicle, which crashed into a tree. Blood stains were visible on the seats.

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