- Gohar rejects Tarar’s claim and calls his remarks reckless and divisive.
- Tarar makes remarks to the Lahore press related to a suicide attack.
- The Information Minister refers to the previous TTP resettlement plan of Imran Khan.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali on Saturday denounced Information Minister Atta Tarar’s accusation that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s ruling party was behind the ongoing wave of terrorism, calling it reckless and divisive at a time of national mourning.
The minister made the remarks at a press conference in Lahore alongside religious scholars, in a bid to express solidarity and national unity following Friday’s suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad.
Indirectly referring to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plan to settle Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters in civilian areas, Tarar said the same thinking was behind the current surge in violence.
Tarar also remarked, with a smile, that “Abb yeh jo dehshatgardi waapis ayi hai, iss kay peechay PTI hai (PTI is behind this resurgence of terrorism). »
In his condemning reaction, Gohar called the minister’s statement “irresponsible” and said he should apologize immediately. “People are grieving, funerals are being held and the nation needs unity right now.”
“Now is the time to jointly condemn terrorism. Statements like this only divide the country,” he said, adding, “PTI condemns all acts of violence and stands with the nation.”
In Friday’s attack, a man opened fire at the Khadija al-Kubra Imambargah compound in the Taralai Kalan area on the outskirts of Islamabad, then detonated a bomb that killed 33 people, including himself, and injured dozens of others.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday that the mastermind of the Islamabad suicide attack, linked to the banned Daesh group, was detained in Pakistan along with the attacker’s facilitators.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the mastermind and facilitators were arrested in raids carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar and Nowshera immediately after the blast.
According to Newsauthorities also apprehended the suicide bomber’s brother-in-law, who is believed to be a central figure in the planning and logistical support of the network.
He was transferred to a central investigation center for high-level interrogation. The investigation also extended to residential areas of Islamabad, where the suicide bomber’s mother was arrested in an upscale neighborhood.
Intelligence officials said: “They have concrete evidence linking her to the group’s activities.” Security sources said the suicide mission was planned by Daesh elements operating in Afghanistan.
Investigators further claimed that technical and human intelligence uncovered a link between ISIS and Indian intelligence agencies – which development officials said would help dismantle remaining militant cells in Pakistan.
Forensic analysis indicates that the suicide vest used in the attack contained approximately four to six kilograms of high explosives.
