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| Pakistan PM's motorcade attacked | Pakistan PM's motorcade attacked |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, his press secretary Zahid Bashir says. | Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has survived an assassination attempt, his press secretary Zahid Bashir says. |
| Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit his car as he was travelling from Islamabad airport into the city, Mr Bashir told the BBC. | Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit his car as he was travelling from Islamabad airport into the city, Mr Bashir told the BBC. |
| However, other reports say the car was on its way to collect Mr Gilani. | However, other reports say the car was on its way to collect Mr Gilani. |
| 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 |
| "I can confirm the prime minister's convoy was fired upon while returning from [Islamabad] airport," his press secretary Zahid Bashir told the BBC. | "I can confirm the prime minister's convoy was fired upon while returning from [Islamabad] airport," his press secretary Zahid Bashir told the BBC. |
| Two bullets struck the window of one of the front doors | |
| "The prime minister 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 minister 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." |
| A statement issued by the prime minister's office said: "Of the multiple sniper shots fired on the prime minister's vehicle, two hit the window on the driver's side. However, because of the robust and comprehensive security measures, the prime minister and all the members of his motorcade remained unharmed." | A statement issued by the prime minister's office said: "Of the multiple sniper shots fired on the prime minister's vehicle, two hit the window on the driver's side. However, because of the robust and comprehensive security measures, the prime minister and all the members of his motorcade remained unharmed." |
| Television pictures showed the shattered glass of the driver's door. | Television pictures showed the shattered glass 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. |
| However, there was confusion when the interior ministry gave a different account of the incident, saying that Mr Gilani was not in the car at the time of the attack. | However, there was confusion when the interior ministry gave a different account of the incident, saying that Mr Gilani was not in the car at the time of the attack. |
| The government information minister, Sherry Rehman, supported that account: "The convoy was going to receive the prime minister," she told state TV. "Those who had designs, have failed." | The government information minister, Sherry Rehman, supported that account: "The convoy was going to receive the prime minister," she told state TV. "Those who had designs, have failed." |
| 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. | One of the biggest challenges facing Mr Gilani's government comes from Islamist militants who control large areas along the border with Afghanistan. |
| Mr Gilani became prime minister after February's elections | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |