The 2009 Dera Ismail Khan suicide bombing was a

suicide bombing A suicide attack is any violent attack, usually entailing the attacker detonating an explosive, where the attacker has accepted their own death as a direct result of the attacking method used. Suicide attacks have occurred throughout histor ...

of a funeral procession in Bargah Kotli Imam,

Dera Ismail Khan Dera Ismail Khan (; bal, , Urdu and skr, , ps, ډېره اسماعيل خان), abbreviated as D.I. Khan, is a city and capital of Dera Ismail Khan District, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the 37th largest city of Pakistan ...

, on February 20, 2009. The attack killed 32 and injured 65 people.

Background

The attack was preceded by other attacks which targeted Pakistani Shi'ites, including bombings in

August August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...

and

November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, the fourth and last of four months to have a length of 30 days and the fifth and last of five months to have a length of fewer than 31 days. No ...

of the previous year. Shi'ite funerals were targeted in both 2008 incidents as well as the 2009 suicide bombing.

Attack

A day before the attack, Sher Zaman, a Shi'ite, was shot dead by a gunman. During his funeral at Kotli Imam Bargah the following day, a suicide bomber blew himself up, immediately killing 20 people and injuring others. In their investigation, police announced that they found the legs of the suspected bomber.

Aftermath and reactions

Some members of the Shi'ite community reacted to the attack by protesting and destroying shops and vehicles. A curfew was imposed and the army was called in to the city, with the area's top administrator defending the decision out of a "fear hat violencecould spread to other parts." Shoot-on-sight orders were issued to police.

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari ( ur, ; sd, ; born 26 July 1955) is a Pakistani politician who is the president of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and was the co-chairperson of Pakistan People's Party. He served as the 11th president of Pakistan ...

condemned the attack.

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

Yousuf Raza Gilani Yusuf Raza Gilani (Urdu: ; born 9 June 1952), is a Pakistani politician who served as 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 25 March 2008, until his retroactive disqualification and ouster by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 26 April 2012. He ...

also condemned the attack, called for an official inquiry, and asked local security forces to ensure that the injured received proper treatment. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister

Ameer Haider Khan Hoti Ameer Haider Khan Hoti ( ur, ; ps, امير حېدر خان هوتي) is a Pakistani Pashtun politician who was the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2008 to 2013. During his government, the province was renamed from "North-West Frontie ...

condemned the attack saying, "We condemn attack on Dera Ismail Khan; residents of Dera Ismail Khan are appealed to stay with peace." As compensation, Hoti announced for the families of those killed and for those who were injured. Punjab Chief Minister

Shehbaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: , ; born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president of ...

and JUIF party president Fazl-ur-Rehman also condemned the attack.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dera Ismail Khan bombing 2009 murders in Pakistan Suicide bombings in 2009 21st-century mass murder in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Terrorist incidents in Dera Ismail Khan Islamic terrorist incidents in 2009 Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2009 February 2009 events in Asia Suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Attacks on funerals Mass murder in 2009 Violence against Shia Muslims in Pakistan