Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
A strong blast rattled the Supreme Court complex in Islamabad on Tuesday morning, leaving 12 people hurt and sparking alarm among employees and visitors.
Authorities report the explosion happened at about 10:55 a.m. in the basement cafeteria while technicians were performing maintenance on an air-conditioning plant; investigators say a gas leak appears to have been ignited during the work.
Witnesses described a loud detonation that reverberated through the lower levels of the building, briefly disrupting hearings as judges, lawyers and staff hurried out of courtrooms.
Inspector General of Islamabad Ali Nasir Rizvi confirmed 12 people were injured, noting several technicians sustained the most serious wounds. One technician is reported to have burns covering some 80% of his body and remains in critical condition.
Fire and emergency medical teams were dispatched immediately. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and the complex was evacuated as a safety measure.
Officials said Court No. 6 suffered limited structural damage, including partial ceiling collapse and heavy smoke in the affected area.
Footage from the scene showed debris strewn across the basement floor and staff assisting injured colleagues out of the building.
Authorities have opened a detailed inquiry to determine whether safety failures or negligence during the maintenance work caused the gas leak and subsequent explosion.
Preliminary accounts indicate technicians were working on gas lines connected to air-conditioning units when the incident occurred.
Officials stressed there were no fatalities and that a full safety and security assessment is under way before the court resumes normal operations.
The event has raised concerns about safety procedures at high-security installations inside Islamabad's Red Zone, where the Supreme Court is situated.
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