A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a district court in Islamabad, killing 12 people and wounding 27, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said.
The attacker tried to enter the court premises and, when prevented, set off his device near a police vehicle at the gate.
No militant group has claimed responsibility.
Officials blame resurgent militants in Pakistan’s heartland, including the Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and have linked the attack to cross-border activity.
The explosion struck at midday, a time when the court area is busy.
Witnesses said the blast was heard miles away and caused widespread chaos.
The government vowed swift action and investigations into how the attacker accessed the sensitive zone.
