Islamabad police declared a city-wide emergency as victims were rushed to PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals; authorities are investigating possible links to banned militant groups following the afternoon tragedy.
BY PC Bureau
February 6, 2026: At least 24 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Friday when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the entrance of Tarlai Imambargah, a prominent Shia place of worship in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area, turning a moment of prayer into a scene of devastation and bloodshed.
The blast occurred in the afternoon, around the time of Friday congregational prayers, when hundreds of worshippers were either entering or leaving the shrine, significantly amplifying the impact of the explosion.
Stopped at the Gate, Bomber Detonates Vest
According to eyewitness accounts and reports from Pakistani media outlets including Dawn and The Times of Islamabad, alert security personnel stopped the attacker at the main gate as he attempted to enter the crowded prayer hall. Unable to proceed, the bomber detonated his explosive vest at the entrance, unleashing a powerful blast that ripped through the gate, collapsed surrounding structures, and shattered nearby vehicles.
Video footage circulating widely on social media showed extensive destruction — the entrance reduced to rubble, twisted metal strewn across the area, shattered glass carpeting the street, and bodies lying amid debris as rescue teams raced to evacuate the wounded.
Islamabad Blast: Number of Martyrs Rises to 24, 101 Worshippers Injured, Says DC Islamabad pic.twitter.com/s7ZcrLhCgM
— Sajjad iqbal (@sajjadiqbal_444) February 6, 2026
Emergency Declared, Hospitals Overwhelmed
In response, the Islamabad Inspector General of Police declared a city-wide emergency, mobilising police, paramilitary forces, and emergency responders to secure the area, assist victims, and prevent further attacks.
Most of the injured were rushed to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic Hospital, both of which activated mass-casualty emergency protocols. Hospital officials said many victims remain in critical condition, warning that the death toll could rise.
Investigation Underway, No Claim Yet
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility. Early police assessments suggest the attacker may have been a foreign national, though this remains under investigation.
Security agencies are probing possible links to banned extremist outfits, including groups referred to by authorities as “Fitna al Khwaraji” — terminology often used for factions associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied networks.
Forensic teams are analysing explosive residues and shrapnel to determine the device’s composition and trace its origin.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing, calling it a “cowardly and heinous act of terrorism” aimed at innocent worshippers.
“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The enemies of peace will be hunted down and brought to justice,” Sharif said in a statement.
Second Major Attack in Islamabad in Three Months
The Tarlai Imambargah bombing marks the second major suicide attack in Islamabad within three months. On November 11, 2025, a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court in the G-11 sector killed 12 people and wounded over 30, raising serious concerns over security lapses in the federal capital.
The targeting of a Shia religious site has once again highlighted the persistent threat of sectarian terrorism in Pakistan. Over the past two decades, extremist groups have repeatedly targeted Shia communities, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries nationwide.
As night fell, security forces continued to seal off the area around the shrine while investigators combed through debris for evidence. Grief and anger spread across the capital, with growing demands for stronger protection of religious sites, decisive action against militant networks, and greater accountability from security agencies.
Once again, Pakistan confronts the painful reality of terrorism striking at the heart of its capital.
