Senate witnesses intense exchange of arguments on Islamabad attack

ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of the Parliament on Monday witnessed an intense exchange of arguments between the treasury and the opposition, as the latter slammed what it described as the government’s apathy towards Islamabad imambargah suicide attack, and its failure to ensure foolproof security for the citizens.

“The imambargah is not located in space. It’s located here in the federal capital. Still, the security arrangements were totally flawed and unsatisfactory,” said Leader of the Opposition in Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, at the Senate session presided over by Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan.

There were no security personnel deployed at the imambargah at the time of the terrorist attack, he said.

“Had security personnel been there — worshippers in such a huge number would not have embraced martyrdom,” he said referring to the suicide attack at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in Tarlai area of the federal capital during Friday prayer, resulting in 33 fatalities and over 150 injuries.

“We were collecting dead bodies— and there were celebrations in one city,” Abbas impliedly referred to Basant celebrations in Punjab, Lahore in particular, from February 6 to 8.

“This is our dangerous apathy — the children who studied at the imambargah embraced martyrdom — but collective funeral prayers were not allowed — the participation of a large number of public in the collective funeral prayers would have sent a strong message of solidarity from the nation to terrorists,” he said.

“Why terrorism cannot be eliminated despite launching so many operations?,” the lawmaker referred to scores of military operations launched over the years in different parts of the country in the name of combating terrorism.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman said Imran Khan was of the view that Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) should be allowed to open its offices in Pakistan. “Imran Khan was called Taliban Khan,” she said.

The senators protested over Rehman’s remarks, calling them false.

The opposition leader interrupted to demand a joint in-camera session of the Parliament on terrorism.

“This issue needs to be sorted out; who created the Taliban and who said that the Taliban were their kids,” he said.

The deputy chairman Senate struggled to keep the House in order, as the opposition continued protests.

Law Minister Azam Tarar said the opposition benches were maligning the state institutions. “They have developed a habit to target state institutions. This is a very serious issue, we need to think over it like a nation,” he said.

Earlier, the House prayed for those who lost their lives in the imambargah suicide attack, and for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Through a resolution, the House suspended its regular business to hold discussion on the terrorist attack. The Senate was adjourned till Tuesday (today).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026