Pakistan interior minister Ahsan Iqbal shot and wounded at political rally

Assassination attempt likely to heighten political tensions ahead of general elections

Pakistan's interior minister has been wounded in a gun attack, officials have said.

Ahsan Iqbal was shot in the shoulder during an election rally in central Punjab province, according to the junior interior minister, Talal Chaudhry.

He said Mr Iqbal was returning to his car after a meeting in Narowal district when he came under attack.

"The minister luckily survived. Thank God he is out of danger," Mr Chaudhry said.

The attacker was arrested immediately after the shooting, Maik Ahmad Khan, a government spokesman, said.

The assassination attempt is likely to heighten political tensions ahead of general elections expected in late July.

Mr Iqbal, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and a staunch ally of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, is one of the most senior figures in government and PML-N.

Pakistan's prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, "strongly condemned" the attack and called for an immediate report by the chief of police in the vast Punjab province.

A senior government source told Reuters early information suggested Mr Iqbal was returning from a meeting with a Christian group, though in his constituency there are other minority groups.

"We are not sure whether it has got anything to do with the motive. We will know only after investigation of the attacker," said the government official.

Militant attacks in Pakistan have fallen sharply over the past few years, but Islamist militants continue to pose a threat and carry out assassinations.

In the past politically motivated attacks have also been a feature of political life in Pakistan.