Pakistan minister wounded in attack

Muntizar Hassan, a police officer, said that Kazmi had survived the attack but that his driver had been killed.

Kazmi was said to have been shot in the leg. A bodyguard was also wounded in the attack.

Television pictures showed several bullet holes in the vehicle.

Kazmi, who belongs to the Barelvi sect of Sufi Islam, has been a vocal critical of the Taliban in Pakistan.

The Pakistani army launched a campaign in April to clear Taliban fighters from Swat and Buner, two valleys a few hours drive from Islamabad.

Pakistan’s major religious parties quickly moved to condemn the attack on Kazmi.