Political leaders unite in grief, fury

ISLAMABAD:

A rare and sombre consensus emerged across the fractured political spectrum on Friday as leaders condemned the suicide blast at Masjid Khadijatul Kubra in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, an attack that struck worshippers at prayer, killing dozens and injuring many more.

From federal leaders to provincial heads, statements poured in expressing grief, outrage and resolve, with calls for swift justice, stronger counterterrorism measures and national unity against extremism and sectarian violence.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack as an assault on humanity, faith and the national conscience. He demanded an immediate and transparent investigation and urged the government to bring both the perpetrators and their facilitators to justice.

Bilawal also called for effective measures to protect places of worship nationwide. He expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, stressing the need for national unity against hatred, extremism and terrorism.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that a terrorist attack in Islamabad, following incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, showed that no part of the country was safe.

Describing the blast as a failure of law-enforcement agencies, he urged the authorities concerned to focus on law and order, public safety and the protection of citizens’ lives and property, free from political interference.

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas termed the blast a brutal and cowardly attack, expressing heartbreak over the loss of innocent lives. He condemned the targeting of places of worship as a direct assault on humanity, faith and social values.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling the blast a heinous conspiracy to sabotage national peace. He urged law-enforcement agencies to intensify operations against terrorists.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sadness over the incident, extending “prayers for the swift recovery of the injured”.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi branded the attack “a cowardly and inhumane crime” and expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives.

“The suicide attack in a place of worship is the worst example of enmity against humanity,” he said. “The provincial government equally shares the grief of the bereaved families.”

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the bombing, noting that the people of his province were “not unfamiliar with this grief [and] know how deep the wound of terrorism is”.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” he added.

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said, “Targeting a place of worship and innocent worshippers is an assault on our faith, our values, and our shared humanity.”

Expressing his grief, he emphasised that the people of K-P stood with the bereaved.

“This vile act is part of a sinister conspiracy by Fitna al Khawarij, operating under Indian patronage, to spread fear and destabilise our homeland,” the governor said.

“The people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces against every anti-state element. We will defeat this menace with unity, courage, and unwavering resolve, and take the fight against terrorism to its logical end.”

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman stated that the attack was “totally condemnable” and “features in a long line of proxy terrorist plots orchestrated by India”.

“This path was actually articulated by several strategists in India after they took a bruising from Pakistan in Marka-i-Haq,” she said in a social media post, referring to Pakistan’s victory over India in a brief war last May.

In a post on X, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said that targeting worshippers gathered for prayers was “a cowardly and inhuman act” and expressed heartfelt sorrow for the victims and their families.

“No words strong enough to condemn the horrific blast,” she stated.

In a statement issued by its central information department, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly condemned the “horrific suicide bombing” in Islamabad.

“Targeting a place of worship is an extremely cowardly and inhumane act, which reflects the savagery of the terrorists and is a reprehensible conspiracy to harm peace in Pakistan,” the statement read.

“The PTI fully condemns terrorism and all elements behind it, and demands that the terrorists involved in this heinous crime and their facilitators be brought to immediate justice.”

The party also extended prayers for those killed in the blast and demanded that the relevant authorities provide the best possible medical care to the injured immediately.

“To eradicate this growing scourge of terrorism, the entire nation must stand united so that peace, tolerance, and stability in Pakistan can be ensured,” the PTI said.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned the blast in a post on X, extending condolences to the victims and their families.

“Now is the time for every terrorist, wherever they may be, to meet their end in the depths of hell — I am hopeful that, God willing, with the cooperation of us all, our provincial and national institutions will succeed in this war,” he stated.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the incident.

“Such an incident of terrorism in the federal capital is not just a proof of the grave failure to protect human lives, but it also is a big question mark on the performance of the administration and law enforcement agencies,” he said in a post on X.

Abbas strongly condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

“Targeting places of worship is a direct attack on humanity, religion and social values, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” he said.

He also appealed to the youth in Islamabad to donate blood at hospitals and “play their part in saving precious lives”.

The Tehreek Tahahfuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance shared Senator Abbas’s post, reiterating his request to the youth of Islamabad to donate blood.

“Step forward at this delicate moment, demonstrating the essence of humanity,” the TTAP urged. “At this time, there is an urgent need for blood in various hospitals of Islamabad for the injured worshippers.

“Therefore, all of you participate actively in this noble cause and play your role in saving precious lives.”

PTI stalwart and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser termed the attack “cowardly and inhumane” in a post on X, saying that targeting a place of worship “reflects the worst form of enmity toward humanity and a cowardly mindset”.

“A suicide attack at a place of worship is not only an assault on fundamental human values but also an open crime against humanity,” Qaiser said.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram condemned the attack, calling it not merely an act of terror but “an attack on our shared humanity, our religion, and the conscience of Pakistan itself”.

“No belief, no grievance, no ideology can ever justify the murder of innocent Muslims, especially within a sacred place meant for prayer, dignity, and peace,” he said in a post on X.

Expressing solidarity with the victims and those affected, Akram said Pakistan belongs to all its citizens and stressed that those responsible must be brought to justice.

“Sectarian violence is a deadly poison that fractures our society and empowers only those who wish to see our nation burn,” he asserted. “This is the moment to reject hatred without ambiguity, to defend every place of worship, and to stand united against extremism in all its forms.”

Adding that terrorism has no religion, nor violence any justification, Akram urged the people of Pakistan to “choose peace, firmly, finally, and together”.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq condemned the attack in a statement, calling the “despicable act of the suicide attacker belonging to Fitna al Hindustan a cowardly act”.

Extending condolences to the victims, he added, “A terrorist attack on innocent and defenceless worshippers is a cowardly act, and no amount of condemnation is enough.”

Sadiq denounced terrorists as “enemies of humanity”, asserting that they have no connection with any religion.

“Terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan will never succeed in their filthy designs,” the statement read.

“The cowardly actions of the terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan can never shake the resolve of the security forces and the nation in the fight against terrorism.”