Panic gripped Islamabad’s Tarlai locality on Friday as a ferocious explosion at an Imam Bargah during congregational prayers killed over 15 people and left more than 80 wounded. Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter horror, with debris scattered and bloodied victims overwhelming rescue teams.
Spokespersons from the district administration updated the grim figures: 15 confirmed fatalities and upwards of 80 injuries. Hospitals like PIMS reported admitting 32 patients, straining medical resources amid the crisis. The explosion’s impact was felt far beyond the blast radius, with security forces sealing off the area for a thorough probe.
Media outlets cite sources indicating a suicide attacker, halted at the gate, triggered the device in desperation. Official statements remain cautious, awaiting forensic clarity on whether it was a live bomber or a planted IED. This comes against a backdrop of relentless assaults in Balochistan, where BLA’s ‘Operation Herof-2’ has intensified clashes with the army.
The group boasted of seizing outposts in Nushki’s Ahmad Wal and Gulantur, part of synchronized hits across 12 Balochistan locales since late January. Pakistani troops have suffered losses, while civilians decry forces for exposing populated regions to danger. Echoing a November courthouse bombing that killed 12, today’s tragedy highlights persistent threats.
With Uzbekistan’s leader in town for talks, the attack amplifies security concerns. Pakistan faces a spike in militancy, testing its resolve. Investigators press on, vowing to unmask those behind this barbarity and prevent future outrages.