ISLAMABAD — Funeral prayers were held Saturday for the victims of a suicide bombing that struck a Shia Muslim place of worship on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital, killing at least 31 people and wounding scores of others.Thousands of mourners, including federal ministers and senior officials, attended a mass funeral in Islamabad for those killed in Friday’s attack at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Shehzad Town area.Pakistani authorities said the bomber detonated explosives during congregational Friday prayers after being confronted by security personnel, leaving at least 31 people dead and 169 injured.Security officials said four key facilitators linked to the attack were arrested late Friday in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.“At least four key facilitators of the Islamabad blast were arrested last night from the Nowshera and Peshawar districts,” a security official told reporters on condition of anonymity.The official added that during an operation in Nowshera to detain suspected accomplices, militants opened fire on security forces, killing a police sub-inspector and injuring five other security and intelligence personnel.Earlier, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said intelligence agencies had identified the suicide bomber and traced his network, adding that investigations were ongoing.“A final report will be submitted to the prime minister within 72 hours,” Chaudhry said.The bombing marked the second major militant attack in Islamabad in less than three months, underscoring growing security concerns in the capital.International condemnation followed swiftly. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed solidarity with Pakistan, offering condolences to the victims’ families.“Malaysia stands with the people of Pakistan in this hour of grief,” Anwar said in a post on X.Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon also condemned the attack in messages to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing the need for continued cooperation in combating terrorism, according to Pakistan’s presidency.Authorities said security has been heightened in Islamabad as investigations continue into the deadliest attack to hit the capital in recent months.
Add a comment
