Information minister Tarar condemns Islamabad imambargah attack, vows strict action

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday strongly condemned the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area on Friday, calling the attack “inhumane” and expressing grief on behalf of the nation.

“Terrorists have no religion. Their sole purpose is to spread chaos,” Tarar said, emphasising that there is no room for sectarianism or hatred in the country. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the security of places of worship and vowed that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.

The minister added that security agencies were intensifying operations against militant networks with the ultimate goal of eradicating terrorism. “We are tightening the noose around terrorists, and the ultimate goal is their complete eradication,” he said.

Tarar also questioned the motives behind such attacks, asking, “What is the faith of those who shed blood for a few pennies?” He stressed that the government had set out with a clear message of peace and solidarity for all citizens.

The statement came as the capital continued mourning the victims of Friday’s attack, which killed 36 and injured more than a 100 during prayers at the imambargah.

Funeral prayers held

Funeral prayers were held in Islamabad on Saturday for victims of a suicide bombing at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in Tarlai, which killed at least 31 people and injured over 160, marking the deadliest attack in the capital since 2008. Families, community members, and senior politicians, including Federal Minister Sardar Yousaf, attended amid tight security. The bomber, intercepted at the mosque entrance, detonated after a brief exchange of gunfire. Investigators identified him as a Peshawar resident with suspected Islamic State links and prior travel to Afghanistan. Authorities are conducting nationwide operations, including raids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to track accomplices and secure evidence.