PM motorcade shooting investigated

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Pakistan's interior minister ordered an investigation into the firing of bullets on a motorcade of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who remained safe.

While there were conflicting official reports about whether Gilani himself was in the convoy at the time of the shooting Wednesday along the Islamabad-Rawalpindi highway, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had ordered the National Police Bureau to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The news agency only reported Gilani's motorcade was on its way from an air base in Islamabad to the prime minister's house when "some unknown persons opened fire." It said police had detained three people at the scene.

CNN quoted Pakistani officials as saying the shooting was an assassination attempt even though it was not clear if Gilani was in the convoy.

The report quoted Information Minister Sherry Rehman that Gilani was not in the car but also quoted a statement from Gilani's office that "the prime minister and all the member(s) of his motorcade remained unharmed."

Rawalpindi, which is near Islamabad, is the country's military headquarters.

The CNN report said Pakistan's state television station showed pictures of the car's tinted driver's side window with two bullet holes.

A BBC report quoted Interior Ministry officials as saying the car was on its way to pick up Gilani from Islamabad's airport. It also quoted Gilani's press secretary as saying an unidentified gunman fired on Gilani's car as he was traveling from the airport to the city.