Explosion at Shiite Mosque in Islamabad kills at least 31, injures 169

KABUL: A spokesperson for the local administration in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, has reported that at least 31 people have died and 169 others have been injured following an explosion in a Shiite mosque. The deadly blast occurred during Friday prayers, and officials have warned that the death toll may rise. Emergency response teams and police were promptly dispatched to the scene after the incident. Additionally, emergency status has been declared at the capital’s specialized clinic, Pakistan Medical Institute, and several other hospitals to treat the injured. According to local officials, the explosion took place at the Khadija Kobra mosque located in the Tarlai area of Islamabad. Taqi Jwad, a spokesperson for the Islamabad police, confirmed the occurrence of the explosion, stating that the precise nature of the incident is still unclear at this stage. However, some eyewitnesses claim that the event was a result of a suicide attack. Former President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the explosion, labeling the targeting of innocent civilians as a “crime against humanity.”