ISLAMABAD
\nThe death toll from the Islamabad imambargah attack rose to 36 on Saturday, according to hospital officials.
\nThe attack occurred at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in the Tarlai area on the city\u2019s outskirts during Friday prayers. Over 160 others were injured, with the death toll expected to rise.
\n\u201cA 21-year-old man who was brought from the imambargah has died,\u201d Dr Aneeza Jalil, a spokesperson at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), confirmed to Dawn.
\n\u201cThe number of deaths has reached 33, and nine patients are in very serious condition,\u201d she added.
\nShe recalled that 149 injured and 28 bodies were brought to Pims on Friday following the attack.
\nSeparately, HBS Hospital\u2019s Dr Riaz Janjua confirmed to Dawn that three deaths from the attack were reported at his hospital.
\nGreat progress in probe: info minister
\nInformation Minister Attaullah Tarar held a press conference in Lahore with various religious scholars, including Allama Muhammad Hussain Akbar.
\n\u201cThere has been progress to a great extent regarding his (terrorist\u2019s) facilitators, and I do not want to go into much detail but I assure you that the net around them has been tightened and they will be taken to justice,\u201d Tarar said.
\n\u201cWe have gotten clues about the facilitators and handlers, and the public will soon be informed about the details,\u201d he further said.
\n\u201cIt is clear about him (the terrorist) that he went to Afghanistan for training,\u201d Tarar said, declaring that Pakistan will not allow attacks on it from Afghan soil.
\n\u201cThese are the same people who have no faith or religion, who shed Muslims\u2019 blood for a few pennies,\u201d he added.
\nAt another point, the information minister said the bomber had been identified, based on which further investigation was under way.
\nAsked whether the incident was an \u201cintelligence failure\u201d, the information minister reiterated that the terrorists\u2019 ability to attack \u201chard targets\u201d had been eliminated, so they attempted to reach \u201csoft targets\u201d.
\nHe added, \u201cSecurity and law enforcement agencies are definitely on alert. But obviously, sometimes they get access and successfully carry out activities in far-flung areas.
\n\u201cBut rest assured, all of the handlers and those involved in this have nearly been traced, and punishment will be meted out to them.\u201d
\nAsked whether the blast was a \u201cfailure of security agencies\u201d, Tarar asserted, \u201cNo, not at all.\u201d
\nOn the question of possible action against officials for any negligence, the information minister affirmed that the Islamabad police were performing their duties to the best, even in \u201ctough situations\u201d.
\nThe minister said he was paying a visit to the scholars to express solidarity over the terrorist incident. \u201cCalling those responsible for it human is an insult to humanity,\u201d he asserted, noting that terrorists have no religion or faith or community.
\n\u201cOn behalf of the state of Pakistan and the prime minister, I assure them that the government is taking great steps for the protection of mosques, imambargahs and such centres,\u201d Tarar said, vowing to further improve the measures.
\nRecalling his conversation with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Tarar stressed, \u201cWhile steps are being taken for security and more will be taken, the main aim is to root out these terrorists.\u201d
\nHe stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met with Naqvi on Friday and issued \u201cnecessary directives\u201d.
\nHighlighting that Muslims were targeted during Friday prayers at the imambargah, Tarar said, \u201cWe will pursue them where they cannot even think of [\u2026] under no circumstance will we let you see any peace.\u201d
\nHe further said, \u201cThey are khawarij, and Pakistan\u2019s good lies only in their eradication.\u201d
\nThe information minister also underscored that the country was united in the fight against terrorism, pointing out the efforts of the National Paigham-i-Aman Committee (NPAC).
\n\u201cWe have reached out with the message of peace. There is no space for sectarianism and hatred in this. We all are muslims,\u201d Tarar said, noting that NPAC\u2019s objective was to counter the terrorists\u2019 narrative and ideology.
\nHe pointed out that the committee had religious scholars from various sects and also had representation from minorities, including the Christian, Hindu and Sikh communities.
\n\u201cDue to this grief and sadness, our aim to eradicate you (terrorists) has only increased,\u201d the minister said, affirming that scholars from all sects stood united.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The death toll from the Islamabad imambargah attack rose to 36 on Saturday, according to hospital officials. The attack occurred at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in the Tarlai area on the city\u2019s outskirts during Friday prayers. Over 160 others were injured, with the death toll expected to rise. \u201cA 21-year-old man who was brought from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-530024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n