At least 69 people were killed and 169 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through the Tarlai Imambargah in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area on Friday, local media reported. The blast occurred as worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.
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Following an initial probe, authorities described the incident as a suicide bombing.
An imambargah—also known as an imambada—is a place where Shia Muslims gather to commemorate the Karbala tragedy.
Disturbing visuals emerge from blast site
Videos circulating on social media showed scenes of devastation, with severed limbs and debris scattered across the area as distraught locals searched for family members amid the chaos.
Separate footage showed security personnel cordoning off the area, while emergency vehicles shuttled officials, forensic teams, and medical staff to and from the site.
Rescue operations were launched shortly after the explosion, with police and emergency workers rushing the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent care.
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“We have shifted several people to hospitals. I can’t say how many are dead at this moment, but yes people have died,” a police official told Reuters.
According to The Express Tribune, a spokesperson at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) confirmed that an emergency was declared as hospitals prepared to handle a large influx of casualties. The injured were taken to PIMS and the Polyclinic for treatment.
Attack comes amid heightened security concerns
The blast occurred during a two-day state visit by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and just days after Pakistani security forces were involved in deadly clashes with the Balochistan Liberation Army, raising concerns about escalating militant activity.
This is the second major explosion in Islamabad within six months.
In November, a car explosion near the Islamabad district court complex killed at least 12 people and injured more than 25 others. Authorities later classified that incident as a suicide attack.
The blast, which occurred near a parked vehicle during peak hours, was felt up to six kilometres away, causing panic among lawyers and visitors at the court.
Following that attack, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif blamed Afghanistan, declaring the country was in a “state of war.”
“We are in a state of war. Anyone who thinks the Pakistan army is fighting this only in the Afghan-Pakistan border region or Balochistan should take the suicide attack at Islamabad district courts as a wake-up call,” Asif had said at the time.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into Friday’s blast, with forensic teams examining the site and intelligence agencies assessing possible militant links. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
