Routine business was suspended in Parliament on Monday as both the National Assembly (NA) and the Senate prayed for those killed in a suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, with lawmakers deciding to bring the incident up for debate.
At least 33 people were killed and around 169 injured when a suicide bomber attacked Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers last week. The blast occurred as worshipers gathered for jumma prayers and was accompanied by explosions and gunshots.
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. The federal minister of parliamentary affairs moved a motion to suspend the agenda, which was approved by lawmakers. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri led a prayer for the victims.
Read more: Daesh-linked Afghan mastermind of Imambagah attack in Islamabad arrested
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 area and detonated explosives.
He said that so far 33 worshipers had died and more than 150 people had been injured. He added that most of those killed were young people and said the presence of educational institutions in the area meant there were more students among the congregation.
Chaudhry said a cousin of the Islamabad police chief had been killed and his uncle had been 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 Nowshera Anti-Terrorism Department had arrested four suspected terrorists.
Chaudhry said the attacker received training in Afghanistan and claimed that India trained suicide bombers in Afghanistan and was behind the operation.
He said intelligence agencies had foiled similar plots in the past and places of worship had security procedures in place, but added that guards were unable to stop the attacker.
Meanwhile, the Senate also suspended routine business and decided to debate the incident. The session began with prayers for those killed.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the upper house and said private members’ bills that were on Monday’s agenda would be moved to Wednesday.
The leader of the opposition in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, gave an emotional speech, contrasting the mourning with celebrations elsewhere.
“We carried coffins and in one city they played drums and music,” he said.
Also read: Daesh claims responsibility for deadly Islamabad imambagah attack
Abbas said those propagating division and hatred were operating 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 there were also hate mongers within the country and questioned why security operations had not prevented the attacks.
“First it was the TTP and the BLA; now ISIS has also arrived,” he added.
Abbas said terrorism was increasing and blamed deficiencies in planning and security.
“Our priorities are something else. Giving the country peace, law and order should be our priority. Right now in Pakistan, our lives and properties are not safe,” he said. “Innocent people are killed every day.”
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More to follow.
