ISTANBUL / ISLAMABAD

Pakistani leaders Friday strongly condemned a suicide attack that ripped through a religious site in Islamabad and vowed to bring the "extremists to full account."

The explosion hit an Imambargah, a Shia Muslim worship place in Islamabad's Shehzad Town area, killing at least 31 people and injuring 169 others.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “deep grief and regret” over the explosion, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan People's Party on US social media company X.

"Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity," Zardari said, directing authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical care.

While condemning the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to conduct a “thorough” investigation and "swiftly" identify those responsible.

"The perpetrators of the blast must be identified and brought to justice," Sharif said, adding: "No one will be allowed to spread violence and instability in the country."

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned "the cowardly suicide attack on innocent worshippers during Friday prayers at a Shia Imambargah in Islamabad, killing dozens."

"Targeting places of worship and civilians is a heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles," he said. "This barbarity will not intimidate us, and extremists will be brought to full account."

Mosharraf Zaidi, Prime Minister Sharif's spokesman, said the attack at the Imambargah in Islamabad "is only the latest in a series of murderous terrorist attacks orchestrated by India."

"India’s terrorist proxies will neither slow down economic recovery, nor divide Pakistani hearts, nor undermine Pakistan’s growing diplomatic capital," Zaidi stated on X. New Delhi was yet to react to the allegations made by Islamabad.

Earlier, Islamabad district administration officials said that the death toll from the explosion rose to 31, while 169 others were reported to have been injured. The administration shared the data on its official account on X but later deleted it.

​​​​​​​The figure has also been cited by multiple local news outlets.