Armed attack in Islamabad district court leaves 11 dead, 25 injured

ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI: Eleven people were killed and 25 injured in a suicide attack at a district court in Islamabad’s sector F-8, Express News reported on Monday. Pims hospital’s Dr Altaf told media that five of the injured, including three lawyers, were in critical condition. Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmad Khan Awan and a female lawyer were among the dead. Condemning the attack, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid announced that his group was not responsible for it. “There is one policeman among the dead,” local police station head constable Mohammad Yousaf told Reuters. “We also have unconfirmed reports that two lawyers have died. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemned the attack and a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani will hear the case regarding the attack on March 4 (tomorrow). Police and Rangers have cordoned off the area as well as Islamabad’s Red Zone. The remaining attackers are reportedly still in the city. A case was also filed against unidentified men in the Margalla Police Station. After the attack, police started a search operation on IJP Road and nearby areas in Rawalpindi. The entry and exit points were sealed by the police. Initial report Police and intelligence agencies submitted an initial report to the interior ministry. According to the report, four armed men entered the court building and two suicide attacks took place. Firing broke out after the blasts and the other two attackers fled the scene. The attackers were between 20 and 25 years of age. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… End of Live Updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11:39am Pims hospital’s Dr Altaf told media that a women, identified as Fiza, is among the dead. He stated that 25 people are injured and five of them are in critical condition. He also added that three of the critically injured are lawyers. It was earlier reported that 35 people were injured. Courts in Karachi have also been put on high alert after the attack. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11:15am Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid announces that his group was not responsible for the attack. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11:11am A three-member bench headed by the chief justice will hear the case regarding the attack on March 4. The interior secretary will also appear before the court. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11:06am Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani takes notice of the attack. Faisal Ali, a businessman who witnessed the attack, told Reuters that “there was a blast, then there was a lot of gunfire. Gunmen were spraying bullets at everyone.”

10:57am Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan condemned the attack. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:55am Security has been put on high alert throughout Punjab. Pakistan Bar Council announces country-wide boycott of courts. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:51am Inspector General of the Islamabad Police (IGP) Sikandar Hayat says that there were two attackers. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:42am Police stated that body parts of the suicide bomber were found at the scene. The Bomb Disposal Squad have cleared the location of the blast and a search operation of the surrounding area is ongoing.

10:34am Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan intermediary Prof Muhammad Ibrahim said that the attack was saddening. Eye witnesses say that the attackers were tall, had long hair and arrived in a white Prado. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:31am 11 people were killed and 35 injured, according to Pims representatives. Police said that there were four attackers. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:28am Islamabad SP Jamil Hashmi said that it was a suicide attack followed by firing. A civil judge was also injured in the attack. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:24am Islamabad High Court has been evacuated and all legal proceedings in the court have been postponed. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:20am Dr Ayesha told media that 11 people are dead. She also said that at least 25 people are injured, adding that around half are in critical condition. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:18am Emergency was declared in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Pims representative Dr Ayesha confirmed that 10 people were killed. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:15am Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmad Khan Awan was killed in the attack. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10:13am Ten people were killed and dozens injured in the attack. The firing incident led to a stampede. One person was killed and 12 others injured. The wounded have been taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for treatment. The attackers are reportedly still inside the court building and police have blocked all entry and exit points of the building. Police officers have been deployed on top of nearby buildings and elite force commandos have also reached the location. Judges and lawyers are confined to their chambers. According to eye witnesses, there are six to seven attackers. There are some reports that a hand grenade exploded in the court but this has not been confirmed.