ISLAMABAD: Funeral prayers for the victims of the deadly suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad were offered on Saturday, as the city mourned one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.
The funeral prayers were held at Jamia Sadiq Imambargah in Sector G-9 and were led by the imambargah’s khateeb, Sheikh Muhammad Shifa Najafi. A large number of mourners, including relatives of the victims, religious scholars and members of the public, attended the solemn gathering.
Inspector General of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was also present at the funeral prayers, while members of the Imamia Scouts paid tribute by presenting a salute to the martyrs.
Strict security arrangements were enforced on the occasion. A heavy contingent of police and law enforcement personnel was deployed in and around the imambargah, with additional checkpoints established to prevent any untoward incident.
The suicide attack took place at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra, where the attacker detonated himself after being stopped at the entrance gate. According to officials, the blast occurred just as prayers were about to begin, intensifying the devastation.
At least 31 people were martyred, while more than 150 others sustained injuries, many of them critically. The wounded were shifted to various hospitals in Islamabad, where several remain under treatment.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the attack, while political and religious leaders across the country have strongly condemned the incident, calling it an assault on peace, humanity and religious harmony.
