ISLAMABAD: The suicide bomber responsible for the deadly attack on an Imam Bargah in Islamabad on February 6 had relatives residing in Peshawar, according to Defense Minister Khawaja Asif.
Meanwhile, four individuals allegedly linked to the suicide bomber have been taken into custody in Peshawar. Law enforcement agencies have moved them to an undisclosed location for further questioning.
Special teams have been formed to identify and apprehend any facilitators or individuals who may have assisted the bomber. The teams include counter-terrorism officials who are focusing on unraveling the network behind the attack.
In a statement, the defense minister said the bomber had returned to Pakistan from Afghanistan last year and had spent time in various locations, including Nowshera, before carrying out the attack. The minister assured the public that authorities were making substantial progress in their investigation and were nearing key breakthroughs in uncovering the full scope of the attack.
The suicide bombing occurred during Friday prayers at the Imam Bargah. At least 31 worshippers were killed, and more than 169 others were injured, many of them critically.
Khawaja Asif confirmed that the bomber had been living in Pakistan for over a year after his return from Afghanistan, where he had reportedly established ties with radical factions. While he carried out the attack alone, authorities are continuing their investigations to determine whether any facilitators or handlers were involved. The authorities are also examining the bomber’s family connections in Peshawar as part of their broader probe.
