A bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 169 others during Friday prayers, officials said.
Police said they were investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
The death toll from the bombing at the Khadija Al-Kubra mosque could rise as some wounded were in critical condition. Television footage and social media images showed police and residents transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. However, the possible suspects include militants such as the Pakistani Taliban or the so-called Islamic State group, which has been blamed for previous attacks on Shiite worshippers, a minority in Pakistan. Militants often target security forces and civilians across the country.
Pakistan has seen a surge in extremist violence in recent months, largely blamed on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which is separate from but allied with Afghanistan's Taliban. A regional affiliate of the Islamic State group has also been active in the country.
Although attacks are less frequent in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital has experienced previous major incidents.
Mosque bombing 'crime against humanity,' president says
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in separate statements and extended condolences to the families of those killed. They instructed that all possible medical assistance be provided to the wounded.
"Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity," Zardari said. "The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time."
Sharif said he ordered a full investigation. "Those who are responsible must be identified and punished," he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and asked authorities to ensure the provision of medical care to the wounded.
Raja Nasir, a Shiite leader, expressed sorrow over the attack at Khadija Al-Kubra.
"Such a terrorist act in the federal capital is not only a serious failure in protecting human lives but also raises significant questions about the performance of the authorities and law enforcement agencies," he said, asking people to donate blood as Islamabad hospitals urgently needed blood supplies for the wounded.
The last deadliest attack in Islamabad was in 2008, when a suicide bombing targeted the Marriott Hotel, killing 63 people and wounding over 250 others. In November 2025, a suicide bomber struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people.
Last week, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 people.
Security forces responding to those attacks killed more than 200 terrorists, the military said.
