Post by : Rameen Ariff

An explosion tore through the basement cafeteria of Pakistan’s Supreme Court in Islamabad on Tuesday morning, injuring at least 12 people and causing alarm across the complex.

Officials said the incident occurred at about 10:55 a.m. while technicians were performing maintenance near an air‑conditioning installation. Investigators say a gas leak appears to have ignited during the work.

Witnesses described a loud blast that echoed through the lower levels of the court building, interrupting hearings and sending judges, lawyers and staff rushing outdoors.

Islamabad’s Inspector General, Ali Nasir Rizvi, reported that 12 people were hurt, with several technicians among those most seriously injured. One technician is reported to have burns covering roughly 80% of his body and is in critical condition.

Firefighters and emergency medical teams arrived quickly on the scene. The wounded were transported to nearby hospitals and the complex was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The blast produced limited structural damage to Court No. 6, where parts of the ceiling collapsed and smoke filled the area. Video from the site showed debris strewn across the floor and staff aiding the injured.

Authorities have opened a formal inquiry to establish whether lapses in safety or negligence contributed to the gas leak. Early findings indicate maintenance work on gas lines and air‑conditioning equipment was underway when the explosion occurred.

Officials emphasised that there were no fatalities and that building safety assessments are in progress. The Supreme Court is expected to resume normal operations after security and structural inspections are completed.

The event has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety procedures at high‑security government sites, especially within Islamabad’s Red Zone where the court is located.

Investigators and court administrators said they will provide further updates as inspections and inquiries continue.

Meanwhile, emergency services remain on standby while structural engineers carry out detailed checks of the affected areas.

#Global