By Admin 
31 people died and 169 were injured in a suicide blast during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. This massive explosion took place in Khadijatul Kubra Masjid-cum-Imambada located in Tarlai area of Islamabad. The suicide bomber blew himself up after being stopped at the entry gate of the mosque. Eyewitnesses said that the terrorists first opened fire and then detonated the bomb.
When stopped at the gate, he blew himself up – eyewitness
According to the report of Geo News, when the guard stopped the terrorist near the main gate of the mosque, he started firing. Eyewitnesses said that he went towards the place where Namaz was offered and blew himself up. The attacker had used such heavy explosives to blow himself up that the windows of nearby houses were broken. This attack has happened at a time when Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is on a visit to Pakistan. He arrived on a two-day state visit to Pakistan on Thursday.
31 people have died so far in the bomb blast
The district administration spokesperson said in a post on Twitter that at least 31 people were killed and 169 others were injured in the blast. At present no group has taken responsibility for this blast. According to the report of news agency PTI, police sources said that the attacker was a foreign national and had links with ‘Fitna Al Khawarji’. This term is used for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The rescue team and police reached the attack site and started the rescue operation.
Pakistani army surrounded the area
Army soldiers and Rangers have surrounded the area and security operations are being conducted around the blast site. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Allama Raja Nasir Abbas have condemned the attack.
Zardari said, ‘Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity.’ Strongly condemning this attack, Abbas said that targeting religious places is a direct attack on humanity, religion and social values, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
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