Barrister Gohar Ali, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has strongly rejected remarks made by Information Minister Atta Tarar, in which he linked the party to the recent surge in terrorist incidents. Gohar described the statement as irresponsible and divisive, especially at a time when the nation is mourning victims of terrorism.
The controversy began after Atta Tarar made the remarks during a press conference in Lahore alongside religious scholars, held to express solidarity following the deadly suicide attack at an Islamabad imambargah. Referring to former prime minister Imran Khan’s past proposal to resettle Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, Tarar suggested that similar policies were responsible for the current wave of violence. He claimed that PTI was behind the resurgence of terrorism.
Responding to the accusation, Gohar demanded an immediate apology from the information minister. He said that the country needed unity and collective condemnation of terrorism rather than political blame. Emphasising PTI’s stance, he stated that the party strongly condemns all forms of violence and stands with the nation in its fight against extremism.
The remarks followed a tragic attack in Islamabad’s Taralai Kalan area, where a gunman opened fire at the Khadija al-Kubra Imambargah before detonating a suicide vest. The blast killed 33 people, including the attacker, and injured dozens more, making it one of the deadliest incidents in the capital in recent years.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the mastermind behind the attack and several facilitators had been arrested in operations conducted in Peshawar and Nowshera. Authorities also detained the bomber’s brother-in-law and later took his mother into custody during further investigations in Islamabad.
Security officials stated that intelligence evidence links the attack to Daesh elements operating from Afghanistan. Investigators also claimed to have uncovered connections between the group and Indian intelligence agencies, which they believe could help dismantle remaining militant networks. Forensic experts revealed that the suicide vest contained between four and six kilograms of high explosives.