ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) condemned the assault of an Iraqi parliamentarian in Sulaimani city after Dr. Ghalib Mohammed Ali was hospitalized following a knife attack.

Assailants armed with knives attacked Mohammad, a member of the Gorran (Change) Movement in Sulaimani on Friday. The lawmaker was hospitalized and released the same day.

"The Kurdistan Regional Government strongly condemns the attack on MP Ghalib Mohammed," government spokesperson Jutyar Adil said in a statement on Friday evening, indicating that security forces were searching for the attackers with the aim of bringing them to justice as soon as possible.

"We assure the people of Kurdistan that the Kurdistan Regional Government is making every effort to protect the lives of people in whatever position or status they are," the statement said, adding "any assault on citizens will not pass without legal punishment."

The Change Movement confirmed that the MP was attacked outside his home and suffered a number of knife wounds to the face and head.

Every Iraqi member of parliament is allocated a budget for 10 security guards, but there are accusations that a majority of lawmakers name relatives to security posts who are paid without doing the work. Such arrangements are known in Iraqi as fictional employment and considered a significant form of corruption.