ISLAMABAD: A powerful suicide blast struck outside the district courts (kachehri) in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon, martyring at least 12 people and injuring 27 others, confirmed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Speaking to the media, Naqvi said the attack occurred at 12:39pm, when a suicide bomber attempted to enter the court premises but, failing to do so, detonated himself near a police vehicle. “The suicide bomber was trying to enter the courthouse, but when he did not get the opportunity, he attacked a police vehicle,” the minister said.
He added that the prime minister had directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. “Our first priority is to identify the suicide bomber and uncover those behind this heinous attack,” Naqvi stated.
The interior minister described the incident as “highly coordinated,” saying that the attacker stayed at the site for 10 to 15 minutes, apparently planning to breach the building. “As soon as a police vehicle arrived, he detonated the explosives,” he said.
Naqvi also warned that if “any foreign hand” was involved, it would not be forgiven, adding that the investigation would reveal all connections behind the assault.
Earlier, the minister visited the blast site along with Islamabad Police Inspector General (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi, who briefed him on the preliminary investigation. Security personnel cordoned off the area and launched a large-scale search operation, while forensic teams collected evidence from the scene.
Police sources confirmed that the explosion took place near a car parked outside the court complex. Following the blast, the building was immediately evacuated and court proceedings were suspended. Lawyers, petitioners, and staff were escorted to safety.
Rescue teams shifted the deceased and injured to PIMS Hospital, where an emergency was declared. According to initial reports, the head of the suspected suicide bomber was recovered from the site.
Sources said the bombing was carried out by India-backed terrorists linked to the Afghan Taliban’s proxy group, Fitna al-Khawarij.
The attack comes a day after militants attempted to infiltrate the Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, underscoring a renewed wave of terrorist activity in the region.
Rising Terror Incidents
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terror attacks since the Afghan Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, with most incidents concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
During the first eight months of 2025, KP alone recorded over 600 terror incidents, claiming the lives of 138 civilians and 79 police personnel.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban regime to prevent the use of Afghan soil for cross-border terrorism, but the situation has continued to deteriorate.
In October, cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban militants led to clashes along the frontier, prompting retaliatory precision strikes by Pakistan, which killed over 200 militants and destroyed multiple strongholds in Kandahar and Kabul provinces.
While a temporary ceasefire has since been reached following mediation, Tuesday’s attack marks yet another escalation in the ongoing wave of terrorism that continues to threaten regional stability.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.