Those responsible must be identified and brought to justice immediately, directs PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD
At least 31 people were martyred and 169 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside an imambargah during Friday prayer in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, confirmed officials. The explosion occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Islamabad’s Tarlai area.
The suicide bomber detonated himself after being stopped at the entrance of the mosque, eyewitnesses told Geo News, adding that the terrorists first opened fired and then resorted to the bombing.
The eyewitnesses further said that the main door is at least 30 metres away from the imambargah’s gate, adding that when the terrorist reached the main gate, guards tried to stop him, following which an exchange of fire took place. “He then ran inside at least 20 metres, and as the prayer was underway, he blew himself up,” the eyewitnesses told Geo News.
Following the tragic incident, rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the hospitals. Law enforcement agencies — including Pakistan Army troops and Rangers — cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the incident.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said that an emergency has been imposed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Polyclinic Hospital and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) hospital. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) administration said that at least 18 bodies were brought to the hospital, while more than 78 injured were also received.
Authorities at Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital said four injured were brought to the hospital, where one of them later died during treatment.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. However, police sources said the attack was carried out by terrorists linked to the “Fitna al-Khawarij.”
‘Suicide bomber’s travel history to Afghanistan confirmed’
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sees footprints of India and Afghanistan behind the recent terrorist attack in the federal capital.
The defence czar said the preliminary investigations confirmed the terrorist involved in the attack had travelled to Afghanistan multiple times.
“After suffering a humiliating defeat [last year in May], India is [now] waging war through proxies as it no longer has the courage to fight directly,” he added.
The minister vowed that the state would respond to this brutality with full force.
Addressing a press conference, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that the suicide bomber has been identified.
“The suicide bomber was not an Afghan national but had visited Afghanistan multiple times,” he added.
The minister said the terrorists were targeting soft targets, adding that IG Islamabad’s cousin was among those martyred in the suicide blast.
The suicide bomber’s identity was confirmed through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) record, said police sources.
“The suicide bomber hailed from Peshawar and was 32 years old,” the sources added.
