The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday announced its support for a nationwide day of mourning and protests called by Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) following a deadly bomb blast in Islamabad.

At least 32 people were killed and about 169 others were wounded when a suicide bomber targeted Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers. The explosion occurred as worshippers had gathered for Jumma prayers, with blasts and gunfire reported at the scene.

The assault marked the deadliest attack in Islamabad in over a decade and the deadliest nationwide since the mosque bombing in Peshawar in January 2023.

Speaking to the media today, MWM chief and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas condemned the deadly bombing in Islamabad and announced a day of mourning and nationwide protests, accusing the government of failing to protect its citizens.

“An attack was carried out yesterday in a mosque while a man was in prostration. Innocent people were martyred, and university students were among those killed in the blast. This tragedy occurred in the federal capital, not in some remote area. Tomorrow we will observe a black day and a day of mourning, with a countrywide protest planned for next Friday,” he said.

Abbas stressed that the incident taking place in Islamabad raised serious concerns about security arrangements in the capital. He rejected what he described as attempts to politicise the tragedy.

“We do not want to play any blame game. In the world, if a government cannot provide protection to its people, it steps down,” he said.

Abbas said that celebrations were held over their bodies and that, in such incidents, it was always the poor who were killed. He added that since coming of age, he had seen bodies falling. He said they were told operations were underway, but it was unclear where those operations were taking place.

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He alleged that certain elements were seeking to incite sectarian tensions, but insisted the issue was not sectarian in nature.

“They want Shia and Sunni to fight each other. There is no Shia–Sunni issue here. Those in power seem blind to reality. Until power is transferred to the people, conditions in this country will not improve,” he said.

In a statement issued on X today, the PTI said it was expressing “full support” for the countrywide call for mourning and demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow by MWM.

Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said February 8, 2024, marked the establishment of “a system built on injustice and falsehood”.

He added that the protest was aimed at expressing discontent with those in power.

“Tomorrow, we will express our disassociation from these thieves. We will oppose everyone who stands against the state. A system of oppression cannot endure. Our voice has been stolen,” he said.

Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the current situation should not be used to incite public emotion.

He criticised Pakistan’s involvement in regional conflicts, saying the country had been drawn into wars not its own.

“We handed Pakistan over to others’ wars. During the Afghan conflict, people poured in from neighbouring regions. Over 1,300 social activists were martyred in the tribal areas,” he said.

Achakzai said Pakistan was in difficulty because of its own actions. He said the country’s 250 million citizens had been harassed at gunpoint. He emphasised that they were not against any agency or institution, but that the Constitution, which had kept the nation united, was being torn apart.

“Tomorrow, the people of Pakistan will express their frustration by closing shops. I call on Shehbaz Sharif to also join this mourning. We appeal to the public — do not be emotional,” he said.

Former NA speaker Asad Qaiser said more than 3,000 Pakistanis had fallen victim to terrorism in the past week, describing the government as having “completely failed”.

“It is the government’s responsibility to provide security to the public. Instead of breaking political parties, the government should focus on its job,” he said.

Qaiser rejected sectarian divisions and called for constitutional supremacy.

“In this country, Shia and Sunni are brothers. There must be constitutional and legal rule in this country. Tomorrow we will hold our protest,” he said.

Also read: Bomber identified as Peshawar resident ‘trained in Afghanistan’

TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the country was facing daily security incidents and deepening political polarisation.

“There is not a single day when no incident takes place. There are important questions that must be answered,” he said.

He criticised what he described as a culture of issuing religious decrees against opponents and urged unity.

“It has become a norm to issue edicts against anyone. We must end this division. All must unite on these issues. If we do not unite, we will witness such days repeatedly,” he said.

Khokhar said that even if it was a “Form 47 government”, there was a need to adopt a unanimous policy and convene an all-parties conference to develop a joint strategy to eliminate terrorism.

“International conspiracies are casting their eyes on the country. Pakistan faces challenges of the economy and law and order. Incidents occur in Balochistan and the next day a new minister takes oath,” he said.

Khokhar urged citizens to mark the day peacefully. “Tomorrow, people should remain at home and observe a day of mourning,” he said.