Kamal Ghorui
A video showing the aftermath of a suicide bombing at a Shia place of worship in Pakistan’s capital has surfaced, capturing scenes of chaos and panic following the deadly attack that killed at least 31 people and injured more than 160 people.The blast occurred at the Terlai Imambargah in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area during Friday prayers. According to sources cited by Geo TV, the suicide bomber targeted the Shia meeting hall at a time when worshippers had gathered in large numbers.Video footage shared by news agency PTI shows scenes of chaos outside the Imambargah, with people running in fear as panic spread across the area following the blast. Personal belongings and footwear are seen scattered across the ground near the mosque. The visuals also show several bodies lying at the site.Police officers, rescue workers and local residents are seen in the video rushing to help the injured and carrying them to nearby hospitals. Following the explosion, an emergency was declared at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, according to PTI, as hospitals struggled to treat the large number of casualties.
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Security agencies cordoned off the area while bomb disposal and investigation teams reached the site. Islamabad police said the blast was a targeted attack and confirmed that a full investigation is underway. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing.The attack drew strong condemnation from political leaders across Pakistan. Parliamentary affairs minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described the bombing as a “cowardly act” and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas called the incident a serious failure of security and said attacks on places of worship “cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack in separate statements and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for those injured.“Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity. “The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time,” Zardari said.Sharif said that he has ordered a thorough investigation, stressing that those responsible must be identified and punished.Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed the condemnation and instructed officials to provide immediate and comprehensive medical assistance to the wounded.The blast comes amid a surge in militant violence across Pakistan in recent months. Authorities have blamed the increase largely on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has also been active and has previously targeted Shia worshippers, a minority community in the country.The attack also comes days after deadly clashes between Pakistani forces and the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, which resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. Islamabad has witnessed another major suicide attack in November last year, when 12 people were killed in a bombing outside a court complex.Friday’s explosion took place while Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was on an official visit to Pakistan and attending an event in Islamabad, several kilometres away from the blast site.Security has since been tightened in the capital as authorities continue investigations and assess possible links to recent militant activity.
