PESHAWAR
\nPeople from all walks of life, including the Governor and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have strongly condemned the suicide attack on worshippers at an Imambargah in Islamabad and expressed deep grief and solidarity with the victims\u2019 families.
\nGovernor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the suicide blast at the Imambargah in Islamabad\u2019s Tarlai Kalan area, expressing profound sorrow over the tragic loss of precious lives. He described the attack as a cowardly and brutal act, terming it part of a heinous conspiracy by Fitna-al-Khawarij under alleged Indian patronage, aimed at spreading fear and destabilizing peace in Pakistan.
\nThe Governor said that hostile forces would never succeed in their nefarious designs through such despicable acts. He emphasized that the people of Pakistan and the security forces stand united against anti-state elements and would foil all conspiracies with collective resolve, taking the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion. He further stressed that enemies of peace would not be forgiven under any circumstances.
\nChief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi also strongly condemned the suicide blast, calling it a cowardly and inhumane act. He said that an attack on a place of worship is a heinous crime against humanity and represents the worst form of hostility towards mankind.
\nThe Chief Minister said that targeting worshippers during prayers reflects extreme brutality and intolerance, which has no place in any religion or civilized society. He reaffirmed that the provincial government stands shoulder to shoulder with the victims\u2019 families in this hour of grief and that such cowardly acts cannot weaken the nation\u2019s resolve to defeat terrorism.
\nHe assured that those responsible would be brought to justice and emphasized the need for collective efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the country.
\nThe brutal assault, which left 31 innocent worshippers dead and over 150 injured during Friday prayers, has once again highlighted the callousness of elements that prey on the most vulnerable segments of society.
\nThis despicable act is not an isolated incident in Pakistan but part of a sinister pattern by anti-state elements seeking to destabilize the country\u2019s social fabric by targeting innocent civilians and worshipers.
\nThe attack also serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of peace when terrorism thrives in the shadows of social division, unemployment, illiteracy, and economic inequality.
\n\u201cSocieties where illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty prevail are easily infiltrated by extremism and terrorism, as witnessed recently in Balochistan,\u201d said Dr Syed Ikhtar Ali Shah, former IGP and Home Secretary, while talking to APP.
\nHe said that the attackers deliberately chose a soft target by assaulting innocent worshippers at the Imambargah in Tarlai in an attempt to create chaos and division in society, but failed in their nefarious objectives. He stressed that religious scholars, intellegnsia and educated class pose a threat to terrorists\u2019 ambitions.
\nDr Akhtar Ali Shah further highlighted alleged foreign involvement in such attacks, stating that Indian proxies, using outlawed terrorist groups such as the TTP and BLA, have exploited grievances in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\n\u201cThe rapid development under CPEC has unsettled hostile forces and Indian proxies in Balochistan where terrorism is being used as a tool to derail progress on CPEC projects,\u201d he added.
\nDr Abdul Ghafoor, former Chairman of Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre Peshawar, also condemned the attack on Imambargh at Islamabad and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice. He observed that a society that favors elites while neglecting the poor creates fertile ground for resentment and radicalization which can be countered through investment in education.
\nHe emphasized that discontent among underprivileged communities provides a breeding ground for extremist ideologies that promise false redemption through negative rhetoric.
\nHe called for addressing class disparities, promoting job creation, and reforming religious seminaries to foster inclusive education and sustainable peace. \u201cSocial cohesion, interfaith harmony and equal opportunities are not merely democratic ideals but essential tools in the fight against terrorism,\u201d he said.
\nSaima Hanif, a university lecturer, pointed out that the lack of development and sports facilities in tribal and remote regions contributes significantly to radicalization. \u201cYouth need positive engagement, not alienation,\u201d she said, adding that reviving hujra culture, cinemas, and traditional sports in villages could play a key role in countering extremism.
\nShe stressed the importance of community-based initiatives, including seminars, awareness campaigns, and educational reforms, to reshape public narratives and counter extremist propaganda.
\n\u201cThe role of civil society, educators, parliamentarians, and religious leaders is critical in rebuilding trust and promoting a culture of peace and mutual coexistence, irrespective of caste, creed, or color,\u201d she added.
\nDr Ebad Khan, opposition leader in the KP Assembly, also condemned the Imambargah blast in Islamabad. He recalled the significant progress made following the 2014 APS tragedy under the government of Nawaz Sharif, including the formulation of the National Action Plan (NAP), establishment of NACTA, and the creation of speedy anti-terrorism courts to dismantle terrorist networks such as the TTP.
\nHe further said that the PML-N government prioritized youth engagement through initiatives such as free laptops, scholarships, and soft loans. These programs, he noted, empowered young people and helped distance them from extremist influences.
\nExperts unanimously agreed that defeating terrorism and extremism requires collective efforts.
\nHe said a comprehensive societal transformation rooted in religious tolerance, education, economic justice, and national unity besides educational reforms can help promotes tolerance, critical thinking, and national identity.
\nThey emphasized that the time has come to move beyond reactive measures. A proactive, inclusive, and united approach is the only way forward, as terrorism thrives in divided societies and perishes in united ones.
\nReligious scholars and civil society were urged to channel this moment of collective grief into renewed resolve to bridge societal divides, uplift marginalized communities, and ensure education for all. Only then, they said, can the vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and terror-free Pakistan be realized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR People from all walks of life, including the Governor and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have strongly condemned the suicide attack on worshippers at an Imambargah in Islamabad and expressed deep grief and solidarity with the victims\u2019 families. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the suicide blast at the Imambargah in Islamabad\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-530067","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n