A massive bomb blast tore through a Shia religious centre on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and injuring 169 others, according to police and hospital officials.
Authorities confirmed the explosion was a suicide attack. Witnesses reported that the attacker first opened fire near the gate before running inside and detonating explosives as worshippers prayed. Police said guards attempted to stop the assailant, leading to an exchange of fire before the blast.
The death toll, initially reported as 10, rose steadily through the day as critically injured victims succumbed to their wounds. Several of the wounded remain in critical condition.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion has fallen on militant outfits such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State group, both of which have previously targeted Shia worshippers. Militants frequently attack civilians and security forces across Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements. Zardari described the bombing as a “crime against humanity,” while Sharif ordered a full investigation and vowed that those responsible would be punished. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured.
The attack occurred while Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in Islamabad on an official visit, though his event was several miles away from the blast site.
This latest tragedy comes less than a week after the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) carried out multiple attacks in Balochistan, killing about 50 people. Security forces later claimed to have killed more than 200 militants in response.
