ISLAMABAD — A devastating suicide bombing tore through the heart of Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring 20 more near the Islamabad High Court, hospital officials confirmed. Emergency sirens pierced the air as rescue teams rushed the wounded to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where doctors warned the death toll could rise, according to “Mehr News Agency”.
Security sources reported that the attacker detonated explosives after breaching a checkpoint in the busy judicial district. Forensic teams quickly cordoned off the site, meticulously combing through debris for evidence to determine the attack’s origins. Vehicles were mangled, windows shattered, and the blast left a scene of chaos and smoke rising over the area.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the explosion as a “cowardly act of terrorism,” promising that those responsible “will not escape justice.” He called on the nation to remain vigilant while honoring the memory of the victims.
Shortly after the attack, the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility. In a statement, the militant group said the bombing was retaliation for ongoing government security operations in Pakistan’s northwest. The claim underscores the continued threat posed by militant networks despite military and law enforcement campaigns aimed at dismantling them.
This marks one of the most lethal attacks in Islamabad in recent years, highlighting the vulnerability of even the capital’s high-security zones. Authorities have vowed heightened security around federal buildings and court complexes, while intelligence agencies are coordinating to identify networks linked to the TTP.
As the city reels from the blast, officials face mounting pressure to prevent further attacks in urban centers and ensure that Pakistan’s security operations do not spark additional reprisals. For now, the focus remains on rescue, recovery, and tracing the chain of command behind the deadly strike.
