ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (APP): Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday briefed the National Assembly on the recent suicide attack at a Tarlai Imambargah in Islamabad, terming terrorism a national challenge that requires collective responsibility, political introspection and unwavering support for law enforcement agencies and the armed forces.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the minister stressed that terrorism could not be defeated unless political leadership stood firmly behind security institutions and acted as their voice.
Earlier, he moved a motion to suspend routine proceedings of the House to discuss the suicide attack in Tarali, which occurred on Friday.
He said the ongoing terrorist threat was a by-product of the prolonged war in Afghanistan, the consequences of which Pakistan continues to bear.
The minister informed the House that standard operating procedures for the security of major religious sites and places of worship in the federal capital had long been in place and were being regularly monitored by the police.
While briefing the House about the Tarlai incident, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the attacker first opened fire outside the Imambargah before entering the premises, where he later detonated himself.
He said the attack resulted in 33 fatalities, while more than 150 people were injured.
According to the minister, initial investigations by intelligence and law enforcement agencies revealed that the attacker had received training in Afghanistan.
He added that police had taken action against facilitators linked to the incident and that operations in this regard were still ongoing.
The minister alleged that India was behind terrorist activities through proxies operating in Pakistan’s tribal areas and Balochistan.
He added that several friendly countries had condemned the attack and acknowledged Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, noting that the international community was increasingly taking cognizance of the issue.
Assuring lawmakers, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said all aspects of the incident were being thoroughly investigated and those responsible would be brought to justice.