ISLAMABAD: Two days after the suicide bombing outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex that claimed 12 lives, including lawyer Zubair Aslam Ghumman, the courts reopened on Thursday with heightened security measures in place.
Despite the reopening, the District Bar Association announced a two-day strike on November 13 and 14 to mourn the victims and show solidarity with the legal community. The daycare centre inside the family courts will also remain closed during this period.
Security around the courthouse has been significantly strengthened. Lawyers’ clerks are required to show official identification, while litigants must undergo thorough registration and security screening before entry. Authorities have completed the collection of evidence from the site, installed geo-fencing around the premises, and sent recovered material for forensic examination.
Investigators reported that the suicide bomber, reportedly from Bajaur, detonated himself outside the court after security personnel intercepted his attempt to enter the complex. The attacker carried roughly eight kilograms of explosives packed with ball bearings and travelled from Pirwadhai to the G-11 District Courts area on a motorcycle.
The blast left 27 others injured, including four Islamabad Police officials, one of whom is an Assistant Sub-Inspector. Three vehicles, including a police van, were damaged in the explosion. At the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), 22 injured individuals are receiving treatment, with 18 in the Surgical Ward and four in the Intensive Care Unit. One victim remains in critical condition. Two others were moved to private hospitals by their families, and the remaining injured have been discharged. All 12 fatalities have been handed over to relatives after completion of legal formalities.
The incident has been registered with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) under FIR 10/25 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing charges including murder and attempted murder. Investigators are working to identify the bomber’s handlers and have confirmed that he acted alone.
Authorities continue to maintain a strong security presence in the area, emphasizing vigilance as forensic and intelligence agencies pursue the ongoing investigation.
