ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said the November 11 suicide attack near the Islamabad district courts was planned and directed from Afghanistan, adding that security agencies arrested the key suspects within 48 hours.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the attacker failed to reach his intended high-security target. “The suicide bomber could not enter the main area and detonated on the outskirts of the city,” he said.
Tarar said the Intelligence Bureau and the Counter Terrorism Department acted immediately after the blast and arrested four suspects, Sajidullah alias Sheena, Kamran Khan, Muhammad Zali and Shah Munir.
According to the minister, Sajidullah alias Sheena is the central handler who brought the bomber and the explosive vest. He previously joined the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan and received training at camps inside Afghanistan.
Tarar said the plot was overseen by TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud through his commander Dadullah, who remains based in Afghanistan. Sajidullah travelled to Afghanistan as recently as August 2025 and stayed in contact with Dadullah through a secure application.
After returning to Pakistan, Sajidullah met the suicide bomber, identified as Usman Shinwari, a resident of Nangarhar, and provided him with the explosive vest. “Their target was Rawalpindi and Islamabad, but the terrorists failed to reach their objective,” the minister said.
He added that all arrested suspects played a role in facilitating the attack, and the network’s links lead back across the border. A recorded confessional statement of Sajidullah was also shown during the briefing.
Tarar praised the swift action of the Intelligence Bureau, CTD, and security forces, calling the arrests a “major success” that prevented a much larger tragedy. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has commended the agencies and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting citizens.
“The armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, remain fully mobilized,” the minister said, adding that the breakthrough will significantly support ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
