ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar revealed that the suicide attack outside the Islamabad District and Sessions Court was planned in Afghanistan under the direction of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said that on November 11, terrorists attempted to inflict major damage in the capital. “The trail of this incident leads to Afghanistan. Our security agencies, law-enforcement institutions, and the Pakistan Army remain fully alert,” he stated.
Tarar announced significant progress in the investigation, adding that the first location linked to the attacker was identified on the outskirts of Islamabad. Following the attack, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four suspects — Sajidullah alias Sheena, Kamran Khan, Muhammad Zali, and Shah Munir.
He said that handler Sajidullah alias Sheena brought the suicide bomber and the explosive vest into the area. “Within 48 hours of the attack, four suspects were arrested,” the minister confirmed.
Tarar further disclosed that the suicide bomber was an Afghan national and that all detained suspects were involved in facilitating the attack. He termed the arrests a major breakthrough that would significantly aid counterterrorism efforts.
According to the minister, the terrorists aimed to cause large-scale casualties but failed to reach their intended target. All planning for the attack was carried out from Afghanistan.
During the press conference, authorities also aired the confession statement of Sajidullah alias Sheena, identified as the central figure in the plot and a former TTP member.
Tarar said Sajidullah returned to Pakistan to meet the suicide bomber, Usman Shinwari, originally from Nangarhar, Afghanistan. The explosive vest was handed over to Shinwari, who later carried out the attack in Islamabad’s G-11 sector.
He added that in August 2025, Sajidullah and Muhammad Zali traveled to Afghanistan to meet Dadullah. During this visit, they also met Abdullah Jan alias Abu Hamza, a member of the militant group Fatah al-Khawarij. From there, they proceeded to Kabul, where Dadullah relayed Noor Wali Mehsud’s orders for carrying out suicide attacks in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The minister said that Sajidullah and Dadullah remained in contact through an encrypted communication app. Sajidullah hired Muhammad Zali and Kamran Khan for operational assistance after returning from Afghanistan.
Tarar added that Sajidullah joined TTP-Afghanistan in 2015 and received militant training at various camps. In 2023, he met Dadullah, who later became a key link in the attack planning.
Concluding the briefing, the minister reiterated that the mastermind of the attack was Noor Wali Mehsud, who orchestrated the plot from Afghanistan through his commander Dadullah, who is also based there.
