Lahore/Islamabad: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif dispatched 25 fully equipped ambulances to Islamabad after a deadly suicide blast killed 31 and injured 169.
The blast occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Tarlai during Friday prayers. Security guards confronted the attacker before he detonated explosives, according to eyewitnesses. Rescue teams and law enforcement, including the Army and Rangers, quickly cordoned off the area and began evacuation.
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CM Maryam Nawaz placed Rawalpindi hospitals on high alert. Surgical teams, orthopaedic specialists, neurosurgeons, and blood banks were readied to handle the surge of casualties. She also instructed local authorities to provide full logistical support to the response operation.
At least 18 bodies and over 78 injured were brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, while Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital received four injured patients, one of whom later died. Authorities continue investigation, with initial assessments linking the attack to militants described as Fitna al-Khawarij.
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The attack sparked national outrage, prompting swift emergency response measures. No group has yet claimed responsibility, while security agencies continue search and investigation operations.