A devastating Islamabad suicide blast struck the federal capital on Friday, killing at least 32 people and injuring dozens more when a bomber detonated himself inside an imambargah during prayers in the Tarlai area. Officials confirmed that the attack targeted Imambargah Khadijah al Kubra, turning a place of worship into a scene of tragedy.
Eyewitnesses said the attacker approached the entrance during prayers and opened fire before detonating the explosive device. Security guards attempted to stop him, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The bomber reportedly managed to move around 20 metres inside the building before the explosion, causing heavy casualties among worshippers.
Emergency services rushed to the site, shifting the injured and bodies to nearby hospitals. Law enforcement agencies, including Pakistan Army troops and Rangers, cordoned off the area and launched a full-scale investigation. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said an emergency was imposed at PIMS, Polyclinic Hospital, and CDA Hospital to handle the influx of victims.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but police sources linked the attack to terrorists associated with Fitna al Khawarij. Investigators later raided the suspected attacker’s home in Peshawar, detaining two brothers and a woman for questioning. Authorities recovered the bomber’s identity card from the blast site, identifying him as Yasir, 32, a resident of Peshawar.
Officials said the suspect had visited Afghanistan multiple times and had been living there for several months, where he allegedly received training in weapons and suicide bombing. Search operations are ongoing in Peshawar and Nowshera to dismantle the wider network behind the attack.
At hospitals, 149 cases were received at PIMS, including 28 bodies, while over 120 injured remain under treatment, many in critical condition. Health officials confirmed that all operating theatres are functional and adequate medicines and blood supplies are available.
Leaders across Pakistan condemned the Islamabad suicide blast. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and vowed justice. Several provincial governments cancelled public events in solidarity, underscoring national grief over this heinous attack on worshippers.
