Islamabad: A powerful explosion ripped through a crowded area outside a court complex in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than two dozen others. Police confirmed that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated explosives near a police vehicle stationed at the court’s entrance. The attack has jolted the capital, which has long been considered one of the most secure cities in the country.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and confusion following the explosion, which occurred shortly after midday when the court premises were busy with lawyers, staff, and the public. Police officials said the assailant arrived on foot, loitered near the main entrance for nearly 10 minutes, and then triggered the explosive device. The impact of the blast destroyed vehicles, shattered nearby windows, and left the street littered with debris and bloodstains. Emergency teams and police cordoned off the area within minutes as ambulances rushed victims to nearby hospitals.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the incident was a deliberate suicide bombing targeting security personnel near the judicial complex. “This was not a random act. Whoever is involved local or foreign will be held accountable,” he told reporters. The minister also ordered a high-level investigation into how a bomber managed to breach the security perimeter of a key government institution in the capital.
Hospitals across Islamabad were placed on high alert as doctors struggled to treat the wounded, several of whom remain in critical condition. Police sources said that many of the casualties were civilians caught in the vicinity, including vendors and visitors attending court hearings. The explosion also killed multiple security officials who were stationed at the entrance checkpoint. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued to clear the area.
The targeting of a judicial facility has raised fears about an expanding militant reach into Pakistan’s urban and administrative centers. Islamabad has largely been shielded from the frequent militant violence that plagues Pakistan’s northwestern regions, but this attack underscores a renewed threat against state institutions. Security analysts believe the strike may have been aimed at undermining public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its core institutions.
The timing of the blast adds to its significance it came only hours after a separate suicide attack on a military facility in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border, suggesting a possible wave of coordinated assaults. Authorities have not yet identified which militant group is behind the Islamabad bombing, but suspicion has fallen on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist factions active in the region.
Following the explosion, law enforcement agencies launched an intensive search operation across the capital. Forensic experts have begun analyzing CCTV footage and remnants of the explosive device to determine the bomber’s identity and origin. The government also announced increased security checks across all major cities, particularly around judicial, police, and military installations.
Interior Minister Naqvi stated that “no one will be spared,” emphasizing Pakistan’s renewed commitment to combating terrorism. Officials are also coordinating with intelligence agencies to track potential accomplices and networks that may have aided the attacker.
The Islamabad blast serves as a grim reminder of Pakistan’s continuing struggle against extremism, despite years of counterterrorism operations. It signals a worrying trend of militants shifting tactics to strike at symbolic urban targets, thereby creating maximum psychological and political impact.
Security experts warn that the resurgence of militant activity could have far-reaching implications for regional stability, especially given Pakistan’s proximity to Afghanistan and its role in broader counterterror efforts. The blast also raises questions about the effectiveness of intelligence coordination and the resilience of Pakistan’s urban security framework.
As Islamabad mourns the dead and treats the wounded, the attack underscores an uncomfortable truth: even the capital, fortified by layers of security, remains vulnerable to the violent reach of extremism. The coming days will determine whether this incident marks an isolated breach or the beginning of a renewed wave of urban terror across Pakistan.