Islamabad: Deputy Inspector General Operations Sohail Zafar Chatta told the media that at least one policeman was martyred and several others were injured in a suicide attack in the I-10 area of the federal capital on Friday.
After the explosion, the law enforcement agency has cordoned off the area.
Addressing the media at the blast site, DIG Chatta said that the Eagle Squad members stopped a suspicious taxi for checking when the suicide bomber blew himself up.
The DIG said that the assailant blew himself up after returning to his vehicle. He added that a woman and a man were in the taxi when the explosion took place.
DIG Chatta said, “Police personnel saved Islamabad from a major catastrophe with courage and presence of mind.” He further said that four policemen were injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, Director of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Dr. Khalid Masood said that he has received information about 10 injured. He further said that apart from the martyred policeman, two other bodies have reached the hospital.
The martyred policeman has been identified as Head Constable Adeel Hussain.
دہشتگرد کچھ عرصہ سے پولیس کو نشانہ بنا رہے ہیں تاکہ قانون نافذ کرنے والے اداروں کے حوصلے کو شکست دے سکیں۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 23, 2022
دہشت گرد پولیس اور عوام پر حملہ کرنے کی غرض سے گنجان آباد علاقے میں دھماکہ کرنا چاہتے تھے۔#ICTP
Terrorists had ‘high value’ target in mind: Sanaullah
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah described the man and woman as terrorists, saying they had planned to attack a “high-value target”.
The country’s security czar said the attackers came in a car as they planned to enter important buildings such as Parliament House, Supreme Court, Prime Minister’s House, PTV and High Courts. He added that if the vehicle had not been stopped, there would have been a lot of casualties.
“It would have been a shame for our country if the attack had taken place in a high-rise building or in a red zone area,” he added.
The Prime Minister called for the report
Immediately after the blast, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a report on the suicide blast and also condemned the terrorist incident.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the martyred police personnel, adding that the nation pays tribute to its martyrs. He further said that the entire nation will fight against terrorism.
The prime minister said that the plan to shed innocent blood has failed due to the action of the law enforcement agencies. He also announced a martyr package for the family of Head Constable Adeel Hussain.
‘The country is heading towards destruction’
Reacting to the blast, opposition leader Asad Umar said the presence of the suicide bomber showed how fast the country was heading “towards destruction”.
اسلام آباد میں خود کش بمبار کی موجودگی بتا رہی کے ملک کس تیزی سے تباہی کی طرف بڑھ رہا ہے. خیبر پختون خواہ میں پہلے ہی تیزی سے دہشت گردی پھیل رہی تھی. معیشت تباہ. امن عامہ برباد. یہ ملک کو اقتدار اور طاقت کی لالچ میں کس طرف لے کر جا رہے ہیں؟
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 23, 2022
Terrorism was already spreading rapidly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the economy was destroyed, law and order was destroyed, where are they taking the country in their greed for power? Omar tweeted.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more details.
