At least twelve people were killed and around thirty others sustained injuries after a powerful car explosion ripped through the vicinity of the district and sessions court near the G-11 area in Islamabad on Tuesday. The explosion, which local media and officials described as a suicide blast, sent shockwaves across the Pakistani capital and prompted an immediate high-security alert.
Officials confirm casualties, probe underway
Confirming the casualties, Pakistan’s Interior Minister said that the injured were being treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where several victims remain in critical condition. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been closely monitoring the situation and has directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for those wounded.
Police officials reported that the vehicle caught fire after the explosion and was soon engulfed in flames. Authorities swiftly sealed off the area and launched an investigation to ascertain how the car entered the high-security court premises. A heavy contingent of police, bomb disposal units, and security agencies was deployed at the site, while rescue teams rushed to evacuate the injured.
Inspector General of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and the city’s Chief Commissioner visited the location and were briefed on the ongoing probe. According to investigators, body parts believed to belong to the suicide bomber, including a head, were recovered from the scene.
Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility
Shortly after the incident, the Pakistan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement released through AFP, the group said it had specifically targeted judicial officials, accusing them of enforcing “un-Islamic laws.”
“Our fighter attacked the judicial commission in Islamabad. Judges, lawyers, and officials who carried out rulings under Pakistan’s un-Islamic laws were targeted,” the statement read, warning of further attacks until Sharia law is implemented across the country.
The claim has intensified fears of renewed militant activity in Pakistan’s urban centres, particularly in the wake of recent intelligence warnings of extremist movements in the region.
Leaders condemn attack, call it a ‘wake-up call’
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned the attack, calling it a “wake-up call” for the nation. “We are in a state of war,” said Defence Minister Asif. “Anyone who believes the Pakistan Army is only fighting on the Afghan border or in Balochistan must realise that this suicide bombing in Islamabad shows the threat is everywhere.”
In a post on social media, President Zardari expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bring those responsible to justice.
Witness accounts and early findings
According to police sources, the suspected bomber was seen loitering near the court complex for about twelve minutes before the explosion. “He first attempted to enter the court but was stopped. He then detonated the explosive-laden vehicle near a police vehicle parked outside,” said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Nearby vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed in the blast and subsequent fire. Officials have collected CCTV footage from the area and are working to identify the attacker and his accomplices. “This is not just another bombing. It happened in the heart of Islamabad, and we will identify those behind it soon,” Naqvi assured.
Rising security concerns in Islamabad
The attack comes just a day after a separate explosion at the Supreme Court cafeteria, which authorities said was caused by a gas leak in the air-conditioning system. That incident killed one person and injured thirteen others. While unrelated, the two back-to-back explosions have raised serious concerns over safety standards and the overall security preparedness in the capital.
The Islamabad blast marks one of the deadliest attacks in the city in recent years and underscores the continuing threat posed by militant networks operating in Pakistan. Authorities have heightened security across key installations, courts, and government offices as investigations continue.