Police say explosion occurred in a car parked outside facility

By Saifullah Ansar

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 /DNA/ – A powerful suicide blast ripped through a congested area outside a local Kachehri (court) in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring 27 others, including policemen, lawyers, and petitioners. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the casualties, saying the attack occurred at 12:39 p.m. when a suicide bomber targeted a police vehicle after failing to enter the courthouse.

The explosion took place in one of the most crowded parts of the capital, where chronic traffic jams and haphazard parking have long posed serious security risks. Cars are routinely parked on both sides of the road and even on pedestrian pathways near the court complex. Locals said there was no traffic police presence at the time of the attack, and that it often takes hours to cross the area because of double and wrong parking. The congestion provided the bomber ample time and opportunity to execute the attack.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as windows shattered and thick smoke engulfed the area. “The blast was so strong that it shook nearby buildings,” said one lawyer who narrowly escaped. The Kachehri premises were immediately evacuated, and court proceedings suspended.

Police, rescue, and forensic teams reached the site shortly after the incident. The deceased and injured were shifted to PIMS Hospital, where an emergency was declared. Sources later confirmed that the head of the suspected bomber was recovered from the site.

Preliminary intelligence reports suggest the attack was orchestrated by India-backed terrorists in coordination with Fitna al-Khawarij, a proxy network of the Afghan Taliban. The incident followed closely on the heels of Monday’s assault on Wana Cadet College in South Waziristan, where security forces foiled another terrorist attempt, killing two attackers.

Pakistan continues to face a surge in terrorist incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Officials say cross-border infiltration and rising militancy remain major security concerns.

Authorities have vowed a thorough investigation and reassessment of security protocols in Islamabad, particularly around sensitive installations and judicial complexes.