Tragic Bombing at Pakistan’s Shiite Mosque Claims Lives

ISLAMABAD — A devastating explosion at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers resulted in the death of 31 individuals and left at least 169 others wounded, as stated by officials. The police are currently investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved in this tragic incident.

There are concerns that the death toll from the blast at Islamabad’s Khadija Al-Kubra mosque may rise further, given that some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. Television and social media have depicted scenes of police and local residents rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.

Rescuers and survivors painted a grim picture of the aftermath, describing bodies and the injured strewn across the mosque’s carpeted floor. Hussain Shah, who was praying in the mosque’s courtyard when a loud explosion occurred, shared his experience: “I immediately thought that some big attack has happened.” Inside the mosque, he encountered chaos, with many wounded people pleading for assistance.

He counted approximately 30 bodies within the mosque, noting that the number of injured appeared considerably higher. While no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, suspicion is likely to fall on militant organizations such as the Pakistani Taliban or the Islamic State, both of which have a history of targeting Shiite worshippers, a minority community in Pakistan.

Pakistani security officers and rescue workers gather at the site of a bomb explosion at a Shiite mosque, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday. —Anjum Naveed / AP

Although attacks in Islamabad are relatively rare, Pakistan has witnessed an increase in militant activities in recent months. The surge is largely attributed to Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is aligned with the Afghan Taliban. Moreover, a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has also been active in the region.

Following the initial reports of the explosion with a lower number of casualties, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon provided updated figures, indicating a significantly higher toll.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in distinct statements, extending their condolences to the bereaved families. They have urged the provision of all necessary medical assistance to those injured.

“Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” stated Zardari. “The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time.” Prime Minister Sharif has ordered a comprehensive investigation, emphasizing that those responsible for the attack must be identified and brought to justice.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, also condemned the attack. He urged the authorities to ensure that the wounded receive the best possible medical care.

The attack unfolded while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was on an official visit, was attending an event in Islamabad several miles away from the blast site.

Raja Nasir, a prominent Shiite leader, expressed profound sorrow over the attack at Khadija Al-Kubra mosque. “Such a terrorist act in the federal capital is not only a serious failure in protecting human lives but also raises significant questions about the performance of the authorities and law enforcement agencies,” he remarked, appealing for blood donations to meet the urgent needs of hospitals in Islamabad.

The last major attack in Islamabad occurred in 2008 when a suicide bombing targeted the Marriott Hotel, resulting in 63 fatalities and over 250 injuries. More recently, in November, a suicide bomber attacked outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people.

This latest assault comes just a week after the banned Baloch Liberation Army executed multiple attacks in the insurgency-affected southwestern Balochistan province, killing around 50 individuals. Security forces responding to these attacks reportedly eliminated over 200 “terrorists,” according to military sources.