Pakistan blast: 31 dead, 169 injured after explosion rips through Islamabad imambargah

PTC Web Desk: At least 31 persons were killed and 169 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through the Tarlai Imambargah in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area on Friday, according to local media reports. Authorities said preliminary investigations point to a suicide bombing carried out as worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.

An imambargah, also known as an imambada, is a religious site where Shia Muslims congregate to commemorate the tragedy of Karbala. The blast triggered scenes of panic and devastation inside the prayer hall, with videos from the site showing shattered glass, damaged interiors and victims’ belongings scattered across the floor.

Eyewitness footage also captured security forces sealing off the area as emergency vehicles, forensic teams and government officials rushed to the spot. Police and rescue services launched relief operations immediately, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals amid chaotic scenes.

“We have moved several injured people to hospitals. There are confirmed fatalities, but the exact number is still being verified,” a police official said.

Hospitals in the capital were placed on high alert following the attack. The Express Tribune quoted a spokesperson of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as saying that an emergency was declared to handle the influx of casualties. Injured victims were taken to PIMS and the Polyclinic for urgent medical treatment.

The attack comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with a two-day state visit by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It also follows recent deadly clashes between Pakistani security forces and the Balochistan Liberation Army, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.

Friday’s bombing marks the second major attack in Islamabad in the past six months. In November last year, a car bomb exploded near the Islamabad district court complex, killing at least 12 persons and injuring over 25. That incident was also declared a suicide attack by authorities.

The earlier blast, which occurred during peak working hours near the court’s entrance, sent shockwaves across the city, with its impact reportedly felt up to six km away. In the aftermath, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had blamed Afghanistan, stating that the country was effectively in a “state of war” against militant violence.

Security agencies have intensified vigilance across the capital following the latest attack, as investigations continue to identify those responsible.