ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, DC, Radio Pakistan reported.
In a statement, the president expressed relief that President Donald Trump and the first lady remained safe, describing the incident as a “heinous act of terrorism” and worth condemning.
Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep shock over the “disturbing” shooting. In his post on X, the prime minister stated he was relieved to know that President Trump, the first lady, and other attendees were safe.
He added that his thoughts and prayers are with President Trump, and he wished him continued safety and well-being.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said he was “deeply shocked by the cowardly shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ dinner”.
“We are relieved that President Trump, Vice President Vance and first lady are safe. We strongly condemn all forms of violence, which is an enemy of diplomacy and intolerable in any civilised society,” he said on X.
He further added, “Our best wishes go out to POTUS and the American people”.
Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also strongly condemned the shooting incident that took place in the United States during a dinner event attended by US President Donald Trump and the first lady, Radio Pakistan added.
In a statement, he expressed relief that all attendees remained unharmed and conveyed his best wishes for the safety and well-being of the US President and the first lady.
Earlier on Saturday night, US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by Secret Service agents after a man opened fire with a shotgun on security personnel, officials said.
The man fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.
The armed man fired at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official told Reuters. About two hours after the incident, Trump spoke in a press conference saying that the Secret Service did a “great job”. “The vest did the job,” he added when thanking the officer who stood in front of him during the shooting, and that he is in “good shape”. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the officer had been released from the hospital.
The suspect, whom Trump described as a “sick person,” has been arrested.
All federal officials at the dinner, including Trump, were safe.
