At least 31 people were killed and more than a dozen others injured after a powerful explosion struck outside a religious centre in Pakistan&rsquo;s capital, Islamabad, on Friday.
The blast occurred at the Tarlai Imambargah in the Shehzad Town area while members of the minority Shia community had gathered for Friday prayers. The impact of the explosion caused significant panic in the area as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Police and rescue personnel launched immediate relief operations, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic, for treatment.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of the explosion and are working to determine whether it was a suicide attack or caused by an improvised explosive device. Security agencies have cordoned off the area as forensic teams begin collecting evidence.
The attack has heightened security concerns in the Pakistani capital, coming roughly three months after a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad that left 12 people dead.
Investigators are continuing their probe to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances leading to the deadly blast.

Explosion during Friday prayers rocks Shia site; probe on into cause

Blast Outside Islamabad Imambargah Kills 31

Explosion during Friday prayers rocks Shia site; probe on into cause

February 6, 2026 | 16:22 IST