A suicide bomb struck the Khadija Tul Kubra Shia mosque in the Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad area during the Friday prayers earlier this week, claiming the lives of at least 50 people and injuring many others. The attack as described by the authorities is the deadliest of its kind in the Pakistan capital in over a decade.
As per the reports, the attack started when the attackers launched a spate of fire at the mosque gates before setting off the explosives after being confronted by security guards. The blast pierced the crowded place of worship and created havoc.
The report further says that the rescue teams responded shortly and transferred 169 injured people to hospitals, out of which many were critically injured. Following the incident, a state of emergency was declared across the city.
The military has further alleged that the “planning, training, and indoctrination for the attack took place in Afghanistan” and has said that under “Afghan Taliban patronage, extremist groups continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global peace.”
“We have shifted several people to hospitals. I can’t say how many are dead at this moment, but yes, people have died,” a police official told Reuters.
“The perpetrators of this heinous crime will be brought to justice with full force, and their nefarious designs will never be allowed to succeed. The brave Pakistani nation stands united at this time, and we remain fully committed to our resolve to defeat terrorism, as we always have,” said Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.
“Such acts of terrorism cannot dampen the morale of the nation. The need of the hour is that we all stand united for peace, tolerance, and stability and express solidarity with law enforcement agencies,” Pakistan’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tweeted.
“We are in a state of war. Anyone who thinks the Pakistan army is fighting this only in the Afghan-Pakistan border region or Balochistan should take the suicide attack at Islamabad district courts as a wake-up call. This is a war for all of Pakistan, where the army is making daily sacrifices to keep people secure,” Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said.
A full and extensive investigation is launched into the attack, and high security measures are placed across Islamabad.
