Pakistani security forces secure the site of a blast in Rawalpindi on January 9, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
The case was registered on a complaint lodged by the custodian of the imambargah Ibne Mohammad Rizvi under charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, possessing and using banned explosive material.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi, Akhtar Umar Hayat Lalika has also constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), headed by Superintendent Police (SP) Rawal Town Karamat Ullah Malik to probe the incident and submit its report, Malik told The Express Tribune.
Earlier, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for an apparent suicide attack on an Imambargah in Rawalpindi, which killed seven people and wounded 15 others.
The powerful explosion on Friday night triggered chaos as dozens of Shias gathered in the mosque to distribute alms to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
"We claim responsibility of the attack on the Imambargah and vow to continue such attacks," spokesperson of the Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ehsanullah Ehsan, said in an email.
"We want to make it clear to these infidel rulers that we will not be impressed by any of their laws or hangings," he added.
The offensive against the Taliban has been strengthened since the attack on an army-run school on December 16 which killed 150 people, 134 of them children.
The country ended its six-year-old moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases last month in the wake of the massacre.
Nine convicted militants have been hanged so far since the de facto ban on capital punishment ended.
To further boost its efforts, the government on Friday announced it was setting up nine military courts to hear terrorism-related cases.
Residents walk in front of the suicide blast site in Rawalpindi on January 10, 2015, a day after the attack. PHOTO: AFP
PM Nawaz condemns Rawalpindi blast
Following the brutal suicide attack outside Imambargah Aun Muhammad Rizvi in Rawalpindi on Friday night, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, Radio Pakistan reported.
The attack left seven dead and seventeen injured.
He expressed the government’s resolve in eradicating the menace of terrorism and extremism.
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid have also condemned the blast.
The blast took place outside the Imambargah where a ceremony was organised in connection with Eid Miladun Nabi (SAW), according to the acting City Police Officer (CPO) Haroon Joya.
Around 80 people, including women and children, were present in the Imambargah when the explosion occurred.
Chaos was triggered among those inside the mosque when the attack took place. The blast also left some houses damaged in the neighbourhood.
The casualties were wheeled out on carts from the narrow lanes of the Committee Chowk area where the Imambargah is located while security officials cordoned off the area to facilitate access for rescuers.
Laid to rest
Funeral prayers of the deceased were held today in Rawalpindi.
A man mourns for his relative killed in the attack . PHOTO: AFP
Mourners carry coffins of victims after funeral prayers in Rawalpindi on January 10, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
COMMENTS (13)
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Bhai, this is our Pak wattan.. they will be arrested, tried in court then will be release
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Are you living in Disneyland? - the fact is only 5% of captured terrorists in Pakistan are ever convicted. Even when caught red handed they get away - what happened to the terrorist that was captured and handed over to police in the lahore attacks on Ahmadis? - where is he now? - maybe he got a villa in Abbotabad
The leadership vacuum in Pakistan since independence is mind boggling. The Zias and Guls of Pakistan had very poor foresight. They unleashed a force that has gotten totally out of control and taken a life of its own. This could very well threaten the existence of Pakistan as a nation. Good luck trying to bottle this genie.
Sooner or later the masterminds of suicide attack will be arrested, will be tried in court and justice will be done.
With the kind of population we have living in densely constructed cities, it will be an extraordinary challenge to achieve what the PM is saying.
Would be interesting to take a comment from JUI-F , JI and PTI on this. Ofcourse they can't care less.
@Blacksheep: Constitution of Pakistan declares it an Islamic state. When the State itself is based on religion how can Maulvis / Mullahs can be eliminated ( along with their supporters) Here also you want to eliminate the other whom you think as wrong doer. Inherently mindset of both are on the same page. Maulvi/ Mullahs/ radicalist too think on your line . They think and also claim that you which includes all politicians, army, other sect, and those who do not subscribe to their ideology and belief ,are wrong and be eliminated . this mindset is the root cause for violence. Why someone wills to become suicide bomber. Definitely because his strong belief in some thing for which sacrificing his life carries more weight than enjoying it. So tolerance and respect to ideas , belief, faith religion , life style of others is the answer .Now ponder on it and if agree then we need to think as how to achieve it.
Maybe after each such horrific event and the claim, Maulana Fazl-ul-Rehman and Siraj ul-Haq should be asked for their interpretation if this vicious and shameful act was in the name of Islam!?
When the Government panders to those who support ( in any form ) these TTP criminals because the Government is both complicit and week willed.........stuff like this will keep happening.
Is that all you can do? Why has there been another attack after Peshawar? Where is the police? Why is the army doing everything? You are playing with people's lives PM. If you can't do the job let someone else do it. You have more than enough money to feed yourself and many of your generations. Please spare us from your leadership.
just condemning won't matter. your govt would need to take action against these people. If you are honest, why don't u start this with that lal mosque mullah that sit in the heart of the capital.
Mulvis need to be eliminated along with all supporters & get the state out of religion for good!