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Pakistani PM 'survives attack' | Pakistani PM 'survives attack' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, officials say. | Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, officials say. |
Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit his car as he was travelling just outside the capital, Islamabad, his press secretary told the BBC. | Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit his car as he was travelling just outside the capital, Islamabad, his press secretary told the BBC. |
Mr Gilani's government is grappling with a growing threat from militants in the country. | Mr Gilani's government is grappling with a growing threat from militants in the country. |
In December former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed at an election rally in Rawalpindi. | In December former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed at an election rally in Rawalpindi. |
Major lapse | Major lapse |
Mr Gilani was travelling in a bullet-proof car in a convoy between Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi after landing on an internal flight at Islamabad airport. | Mr Gilani was travelling in a bullet-proof car in a convoy between Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi after landing on an internal flight at Islamabad airport. |
"I can confirm the prime minister's convoy was fired upon while returning from Chaklala airport," his press secretary Zahid Bashir told the BBC. | "I can confirm the prime minister's convoy was fired upon while returning from Chaklala airport," his press secretary Zahid Bashir told the BBC. |
"The prime minster was coming back from Lahore. The firing took place on the Islamabad highway. At this point, we believe the firing was from a small hill on the roadside." | "The prime minster was coming back from Lahore. The firing took place on the Islamabad highway. At this point, we believe the firing was from a small hill on the roadside." |
Television pictures indicated that the bullets hit the windows of the driver's door. | Television pictures indicated that the bullets hit the windows of the driver's door. |
Officials say another car in the convoy was also hit by several bullets. There are no reports of injuries. | Officials say another car in the convoy was also hit by several bullets. There are no reports of injuries. |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the incident represents a major lapse in security. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says the incident represents a major lapse in security. |
Mr Gilani had been in Lahore to canvass support for Asif Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower, ahead of presidential elections on Saturday. | Mr Gilani had been in Lahore to canvass support for Asif Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower, ahead of presidential elections on Saturday. |
Ms Bhutto had been favourite to win Pakistan's general elections and become prime minister for a third time before she was killed on 27 December. The elections were subsequently postponed until February. | Ms Bhutto had been favourite to win Pakistan's general elections and become prime minister for a third time before she was killed on 27 December. The elections were subsequently postponed until February. |
Her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerged as the winners and formed a coalition with the PML-N party of another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. Mr Gilani, himself a senior PPP member, became prime minister | Her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerged as the winners and formed a coalition with the PML-N party of another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. Mr Gilani, himself a senior PPP member, became prime minister |
The coalition broke up amid political acrimony late last month. | The coalition broke up amid political acrimony late last month. |
Confident | Confident |
One of the biggest challenges facing Mr Gilani's government comes from Islamist militants who control large areas along the border with Afghanistan. | |
The army has been engaged in a major operation in recent weeks in the district of Bajaur which is estimated to have displaced up to 300,000 local people. | The army has been engaged in a major operation in recent weeks in the district of Bajaur which is estimated to have displaced up to 300,000 local people. |
This week the government said the Bajaur operation would be suspended during Ramadan. | This week the government said the Bajaur operation would be suspended during Ramadan. |
Last year militants grew increasingly confident and carried out a series of attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the country's main garrison town. | Last year militants grew increasingly confident and carried out a series of attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the country's main garrison town. |
And last month a double suicide attack at a munitions attack in the town of Wah in Punjab province left nearly 70 people dead. | |
The loose alliance of militants that calls itself the Pakistan Taleban claimed responsibility for the Wah incident, the heaviest attack on a military installation by a militant group in the country's history. | |
Mr Gilani's PPP and Mr Sharif's PML-N have spent much of their time since February arguing over issues such as the power of the presidency and whether judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf should be reinstated. | |
During that time the economy has taken a further battering with the Pakistani rupee falling to an all time low while food and fuel prices have risen sharply. |