ISLAMABAD – At least 31 people were martyred and 169 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area during Friday prayers, officials confirmed.
The explosion occurred at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra. Images from the scene showed blood-stained prayer mats, shattered glass and debris scattered across the hall as panicked worshippers rushed to rescue the injured. According to eyewitnesses, the attacker was stopped by security guards at the main entrance, following which an exchange of fire took place. He then ran inside the imambargah and detonated his explosives among worshippers during prayers.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon said an emergency was imposed at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic Hospital and CDA Hospital. Hospital officials said at least 18 bodies and over 78 injured were brought to PIMS, while several wounded were shifted to Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital, where one later died.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, police sources said the bomber was linked to the banned Fitna al-Khawarij network.
Later, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the suicide bomber had been identified through NADRA records as Yasir Khan of Ganj Mohalla Qazian, Peshawar. He said forensic evidence showed the attacker had travelled to Afghanistan multiple times.
“The suicide bomber was not an Afghan national but had visited Afghanistan repeatedly,” the minister said, adding that terrorists were deliberately targeting soft locations such as mosques and imambargahs.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed the attacker had travelled to and from Afghanistan and alleged foreign involvement in the attack. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the blast site and directed authorities to restore the imambargah and ensure the best medical treatment for the injured.
Islamabad police sealed the area while bomb disposal and forensic teams collected evidence. The capital was placed on high alert following the incident.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz cancelled all Basant-related activities and dispatched 25 ambulances to Islamabad. Sindh government also cancelled musical programmes planned in connection with a cultural event.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims. The prime minister directed authorities to complete investigations immediately and bring those responsible to justice.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar termed the attack “a heinous crime against humanity and a violation of Islamic principles.”
The blast comes less than three months after a suicide attack outside a court in Islamabad’s G-11 sector that killed 12 people.
