Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed on Friday that the deadly blast at an Imambargah in Islamabad was a suicide attack adding that authorities have identified the attacker and obtained details of his travel history including multiple visits to Afghanistan.
Speaking to the media Chaudhry clarified that the attacker was not an Afghan national but had travelled to Afghanistan several times. He said investigators were analysing the attacker’s network and expressed confidence that those responsible for orchestrating the attack would be identified within the next 72 hours.
According to preliminary findings at least 31 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the attack which was reported to Islamabad authorities at 1:42 pm. Hospitals across the capital have been placed on emergency footing and Chaudhry said he remained at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on the directives of the prime minister and interior minister.
The minister alleged that the attack was carried out by militants linked to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) describing it as an assault on a soft target.He reiterated Pakistan’s long standing stance that such militant groups are foreign sponsored.
Chaudhry said the government would continue strict implementation of the National Action Plan, stressing that there would be no leniency against terrorism.
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