Islamabad: A powerful suicide blast ripped through the parking area of the District Court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring 36 others. The explosion, which occurred around 1:07 p.m., sent shockwaves across the city and exposed deep divisions within Pakistan’s leadership as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif offered conflicting explanations about who was responsible for the attack.
According to Islamabad Police officials, the explosion originated from a car parked in the court’s parking lot. The head of the suspected suicide bomber was found at the scene, confirming it to be a suicide attack. Rescue teams rushed to the area, while security personnel cordoned off and sealed the premises. All judges, lawyers, and civilians inside the court complex were safely evacuated through emergency exits, with several witnesses describing scenes of chaos and panic as people ran for safety.
At the time of the explosion, the area surrounding the courthouse was crowded with vehicles and bystanders, which contributed to the high number of casualties. The injured were immediately taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, where emergency wards were prepared to treat victims. Officials confirmed that several of the wounded remain in critical condition.
Contradictory Claims from Pakistani Leadership
The tragedy has sparked political controversy at the highest levels of Pakistan’s government. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif alleged that the attack was part of “India-sponsored terrorism” designed to destabilize Pakistan. In a strongly worded statement, he said, “These attacks are part of India-sponsored terrorism aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. No amount of condemnation is enough for these attacks, which are being carried out from Afghan soil under Indian patronage.”
However, in a sharp departure from the Prime Minister’s stance, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif pointed the finger at Afghanistan instead. He stated that the Taliban-led Afghan government had allowed militant groups to operate freely, resulting in the escalation of cross-border terrorism. “We are at war,” Asif declared. “The attack is not taking place on the Afghan border or in Balochistan, but in Islamabad. The Taliban rulers can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul.”
These contradictory statements have further fueled speculation about disunity within Pakistan’s top leadership on how to address rising terror threats, particularly those linked to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist groups that operate along the Afghan border.
India Rejects Pakistan’s Accusations
India swiftly dismissed the allegations made by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, calling them “baseless and unfounded.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, issued an official response, stating that Pakistan’s claims were part of an old strategy to divert attention from its internal problems.
In his statement, Jaiswal said, “This is Pakistan’s old habit, to create false narratives to distract its people from real issues. Its leaders are in a state of confusion and are making false allegations against India to divert attention from political instability and the power struggle within their country.”
He further added, “India unequivocally rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations being made by an obviously delirious Pakistani leadership. It is a predictable tactic to deflect the attention of its own public from the ongoing military and political crises in Pakistan.”
Recent Security Concerns in Pakistan
The suicide bombing comes amid a surge in militant activity across Pakistan. Just a day earlier, the Pakistani Army claimed to have foiled a terrorist attack on an army college in Wana, a city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to reports, six Pakistani Taliban fighters attempted to storm the campus. Two were killed in the ensuing gunfight, while three others were cornered inside a building. Although no cadets or instructors were harmed, 16 civilians and some soldiers sustained injuries, and several nearby houses were damaged.
The Wana area has long been considered a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaeda, and other extremist factions. The attempted assault on the army college followed several weeks of heightened security alerts issued by Pakistani intelligence agencies warning of possible attacks in major cities, including Islamabad and Lahore.
Adding to the concern, exactly a week before Tuesday’s suicide blast, on November 4, a powerful gas cylinder explosion occurred in the basement canteen of Pakistan’s Supreme Court building, injuring 12 people. While that incident was later confirmed to be accidental, it had already raised alarm about the safety of judicial institutions in the capital.
Islamabad Police Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi had confirmed that the earlier explosion was caused by a gas leak during repair work in the canteen’s air conditioning system. The bomb disposal squad found no traces of explosives.
A City on Edge
Tuesday’s attack has once again highlighted Islamabad’s growing vulnerability to terrorism despite increased security measures in recent years. The court complex, located in one of the most secure zones of the capital, was considered a low-risk area until now. The fact that a suicide bomber could infiltrate the premises undetected raises serious questions about Pakistan’s counterterrorism preparedness.
As investigations continue, tension remains high in Islamabad. The federal government has declared an emergency in all hospitals and directed intelligence agencies to trace the network behind the attack. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens remain anxious, fearing that the resurgence of terrorism could once again plunge Pakistan into a cycle of violence and instability.
