A video shared on social media showed minor damage to the court’s structure.
A powerful blast shook the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 12 people injured. The explosion occurred in the basement cafeteria, sending shockwaves through the entire building and creating panic among lawyers, court staff, and visitors.
According to local media reports, the explosion happened when a gas cylinder burst inside the basement cafeteria of the Supreme Court. The blast was so strong that parts of the building trembled. A video shared on social media showed minor damage to the court’s structure.
The loud sound of the blast reverberated across the lower floors, forcing people inside to rush out in fear. Following the explosion, security officials quickly evacuated the building, and all ongoing court activities came to a sudden halt.
Islamabad’s Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi confirmed that the explosion was caused by a gas leak. He said the incident took place in the Supreme Court canteen at around 10:55 am.
“It was a gas explosion that occurred while technicians were engaged in maintenance work near an air conditioning (AC) plant,” Rizvi told Express Tribune.
He added that 12 people were injured in the blast and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Inspector General said that the AC technicians sustained the most severe injuries.
“One technician suffered burns on 80 per cent of his body,” he added.
Most of the injured were maintenance workers who were present in the basement at the time of the explosion. Emergency teams and police officers reached the scene soon after the blast to control the situation and begin an investigation.
According to a Samaa News report, court hearings were underway when the explosion occurred. The blast caused significant damage to Court No. 6 in the Supreme Court building. Authorities later sealed off the affected area for safety checks and launched a probe into the cause of the gas leak.
The incident has raised concerns about safety measures inside major government buildings in Islamabad. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether negligence or faulty maintenance work led to the explosion.
