A deadly Islamabad suicide blast outside the district courts on Tuesday killed 12 people and injured at least 36 others. The explosion hit the main entrance of the judicial complex in G-11, where hundreds of lawyers and visitors were present. Officials confirmed it was the first major terror attack in the capital in nearly three years. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Police said the attacker failed to enter the court building and then blew himself up near a police vehicle. Investigators recovered the bomber’s face from the scene for identification and sent the remains to Nadra. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage using artificial intelligence to trace the bomber’s route and identify any handlers or facilitators. Early reports suggest the attacker came from outside Islamabad and had been in the city for several days.
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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters the explosion occurred at 12:39 pm. He said the attacker waited for 12 minutes outside the court before detonating the explosives. The minister promised to identify the bomber soon and punish those behind the attack. He added that the timing of the Islamabad suicide blast carried significant “messages,” especially as major international events were taking place in the city.
The explosion created panic among citizens and raised serious security concerns. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as cars burned and people rushed for safety. Lawyers and police officers were among the casualties. Security has now been tightened across the capital, with strict checking at entry and exit points. Authorities also plan to make electronic tags mandatory for vehicles entering Islamabad.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the Islamabad suicide blast and vowed to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan. They assured the nation that security operations against foreign-backed militants would continue. As the city mourns the victims, officials emphasize unity and vigilance to prevent future attacks.