Routine business was suspended in Parliament on Monday as both the National Assembly (NA) and the Senate held prayers for those killed in a suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, with lawmakers moved to take up the incident for debate.
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 Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. A motion to suspend the day’s agenda was tabled by the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and approved by the lawmakers. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri led a prayer for the victims.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told NA that the attack took place at an imambargah in Tarlai, where an assailant opened fire on security guards, entered the mosque compound and detonated explosives.
He said 33 worshipers had been killed so far and more than 150 people were injured. He added that most of those killed were young people, saying the presence of educational institutions in the area meant more students were among the congregation.
Chaudhry said a cousin of Islamabad’s police chief had been killed and his uncle wounded.
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 Counter-Terrorism Department in Nowshera had arrested four suspected terrorists.
Chaudhry said the attacker received training in Afghanistan and claimed India was training suicide bombers in Afghanistan and was behind the operation.
He said intelligence services had foiled similar plans 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 routine activities and decided to discuss the incident. The meeting began with prayers for those killed.
Addressing the Upper House, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said private members’ bills on Monday’s agenda were moved to Wednesday.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas gave an emotional speech contrasting mourning with celebrations elsewhere.
“We carried coffins and in one town drums and music were played,” he said.
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Abbas said those spreading division and hatred were operating openly.
“Pakistan is not a sectarian Pakistan – it was made a Muslim Pakistan,” he said. “This is Muslim Pakistan. This is Pakistan for all of us.”
He said there were also hatemongers in the country and questioned why security operations had not prevented attacks.
“First there was TTP and BLA – now ISIS has also arrived,” he added.
Abbas said terrorism was growing and blamed gaps in planning and security.
“Our priorities are something else. Giving the country peace and law and order should be our priority. At present in Pakistan, our lives and property are not safe,” he said. “Innocent people are killed every day.”
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More to follow.
