Four people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a suicide bombing that killed more than 30 individuals on Friday, according to Pakistan's interior minister. Mohsin Naqvi indicated that an Afghan national alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack was among those detained. In the police raids to apprehend the suspects, one counter-terrorism officer was killed, and three others were wounded.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that targeted Friday prayers at a Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, packed with worshippers at the time. Over 160 individuals were injured in this incident, marking it as one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in over a decade.
Thousands gathered in Islamabad for the funerals of the bombing's 32 victims, amid tight security with soldiers standing guard and police checkpoints established in multiple areas. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos and terror, with families grieving monumental losses. Ashiq Hussain, who lost his nephew in the blast, expressed profound sorrow, stating his family was 'broken.'
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the act, expressing 'deep grief,' while President Asif Ali Zardari denounced the targeting of innocent civilians as a 'crime against humanity.' The interior minister also accused India of funding those responsible for the attack, while Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested possible Afghan involvement. These claims have been met with denials from both India and the Afghan Taliban government.
Naqvi has promised to enhance security measures in Islamabad, vowing to deploy thousands of new police officers and upgrade the city’s smart security systems in light of this recent violence.
The attack follows a series of violent incidents in Pakistan, particularly in the Balochistan province, raising concerns over security and stability in the region.
