The Pakistani Taliban's Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it avenged the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri. Qadri was hanged on February 29. Peshawar-based senior analyst and retired brigadier Saad Khan said using the name of Qadri was just a cover. "The main purpose of militant groups is to spread terror and to give a message that they are still alive," he said. "These groups need covers and using the name of Mumtaz Qadri is just an excuse."