At least twelve people were killed and 27 others injured on Tuesday in a suicide blast outside the district and sessions court building in Islamabad’s G-11 sector, officials confirmed. The explosion occurred at 12:39 p.m. in the parking area of the busy judicial complex, a district that houses several high-ranking government offices.
According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the attacker stood outside the court for approximately 12 minutes. He initially attempted to enter the court but targeted a police vehicle after being unable to gain access. “We are investigating this incident from multiple angles. Identifying the attacker is a top priority,” Naqvi said, assuring that those responsible would not be spared.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes at the court following the blast. Lawyer Rustam Malik told the media, “It was complete chaos. Lawyers and people were running inside the complex. I saw two dead bodies lying at the gate and several cars on fire.” Videos circulating on social media showed flames and plumes of smoke rising from a charred vehicle behind a security barrier.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, offering condolences to the victims’ families and paying tribute to law enforcement agencies. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the incident as a “wake-up call,” warning that Pakistan is effectively in a “state of war” and linking the attack to militant groups in Afghanistan.
The blast comes amid heightened security concerns in Islamabad, which hosts multiple international events and high-profile government offices. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar urged tighter surveillance and intelligence coordination across the country, warning that suicide attackers and terrorists are “enemies of humanity.”
No group has yet claimed responsibility, though a security source told the media that the attack may have been carried out by militants linked to the Afghan Taliban and India. The incident underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle with Islamist militancy, particularly in the wake of Taliban control in Afghanistan and the failure of recent peace talks between the two neighbours.
This is a developing story.