Thousands of mourners gathered in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday for a somber mass funeral honoring victims of a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque the previous day. At least 31 people were killed and around 170 wounded, as authorities vowed to intensify operations against Islamist militants. The attack, claimed by an affiliate of the so-called “Islamic State” group, has heightened fears of escalating sectarian violence in the heavily guarded city.
Tens of thousands attended funeral prayers in an open area near the mosque, with many openly weeping and beating their chests in traditional Shiite lamentation. Around 20 coffins were carried away for burial, and additional prayers were held in Dera Ismail Khan for two other victims. Shops shuttered across Islamabad, streets were deserted and unions called for widespread protests.
“What happened yesterday has left us extremely angry and deeply hurt,” said Bushra Rahmani, whose brother was among the wounded. Ashiq Hussain, grieving the loss of his 21-year-old nephew, said, “Our family is broken. What sin did this young man commit?” Security was significantly bolstered, with police checkpoints on major roads and elite commandos guarding key sites amid concerns of further attacks.
The bombing occurred during Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad. According to local administration chief Irfan Memon, a suicide bomber opened fire on security guards at the main gate before detonating an explosive vest at the inner entrance. Witnesses described gunfire exchanged with volunteer security personnel followed by a massive explosion. Unverified videos circulating on social media showed bodies near the mosque’s front gate and the injured, including children, being rushed to ambulances amid screams and weeping relatives.
The regional IS affiliate, known as Islamic State in Pakistan, claimed responsibility in statements posted on Telegram and its Amaq News Agency, describing the attack as targeting “infidel” Shiites and accusing them of providing recruits to rival Shiite militias fighting IS in Syria. Shiites, comprising about 10 to 15% of Pakistan’s roughly 241 million predominantly Sunni population, have long been targeted by groups like IS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The attack is the deadliest incident in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing, which killed 63 people, and follows a November suicide blast outside a court that killed 12.
Authorities moved swiftly with overnight raids in Peshawar, Nowshera and across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, leading to the arrest of several suspects, including members of the bomber’s family, according to security sources. One militant and at least two law enforcement officers were killed during the operations, and three more agents were injured. State-run media reported the detention of an alleged Afghan IS mastermind, saying the plot originated in Afghanistan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said four people accused of helping the suicide bomber had been arrested.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to bring perpetrators to justice and expressed gratitude for international condolences from the US, Russia and the EU. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in Islamist violence since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan. A separatist group launched coordinated assaults last week in Balochistan that claimed the lives of 36 civilians and 22 security personnel, followed by operations that authorities say killed nearly 200 militants.
Edited by: Zac Crellin