Routine business of Parliament was suspended on Monday as the National Assembly (NA) and Senate held prayers for those killed in a suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, with lawmakers asked to debate the incident.
At least 33 people were killed and around 169 others injured when a suicide bomber struck Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers last week. The blast occurred as worshipers gathered for Jumma prayers and was accompanied by explosions and gunfire.
The attack was the deadliest in Islamabad in more than a decade and the deadliest nationwide since the Peshawar mosque bombing in January 2023.
Today’s NA session began under the leadership of President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. A motion to suspend the day’s agenda was tabled by the federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and approved by lawmakers. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri led a prayer for the victims.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told AN that the attack took place at an imambargah in Tarlai, where an assailant opened fire on security guards, entered the mosque area and detonated explosives.
He said 33 worshipers had been killed so far and more than 150 people had been injured. He added that most of those killed were young people, saying the presence of educational institutions in the area meant there were more students among the congregation.
Chaudhry said a cousin of Islamabad’s police chief was killed and his uncle injured.
He told lawmakers that the attacker had been identified as “Yasir Khan,” and said authorities had also learned that another terrorist linked to the incident was a suicide bomber.
He said the anti-terrorism department in Nowshera had arrested four suspected terrorists.
Chaudhry said the attacker had received training in Afghanistan and claimed that India had trained suicide bombers in Afghanistan and was behind the operation.
He said intelligence agencies had foiled similar plots in the past and that places of worship had security procedures in place, but added that guards were unable to stop the attacker.
Meanwhile, the Senate also suspended its current business and decided to debate the incident. The session began with prayers for those killed.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the upper house, saying private member’s bills on Monday’s agenda were being moved to Wednesday.
The leader of the opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, gave a moving speech, contrasting the mourning with celebrations elsewhere.
“We were carrying coffins, and in one town there were drums and music playing,” he said.
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Abbas said those who spread division and hatred operate openly.
“Pakistan is not a sectarian Pakistan – it has become a Muslim Pakistan,” he said. “This is Muslim Pakistan. This is Pakistan for all of us.”
He said hate mongers also existed in the country and questioned why security operations had not prevented the attacks.
“First there was the TTP and the BLA; now ISIS has also arrived,” he added.
Abbas said terrorism was increasing and pointed to planning and security gaps.
“Our priorities are something else. Giving the country peace, law and order should be our priority. Right now in Pakistan, our life and property are not safe,” he said. “Innocent people are killed every day. »
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More to follow.
