A gas-cylinder explosion took place in the basement of the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, during the maintenance work being carried out on the central air-conditioning system. The basement area is used by technical staff and is not an area where court hearings take place.
Casualties & Damage
About 12 people were injured, including maintenance workers and possibly some court staff who were present in the vicinity.
No deaths were reported.
The explosion shook the building, causing panic among lawyers, employees, and visitors in the court premises.
Some news reports said the force of the blast caused:
Partial damage to the AC ducting and basement infrastructure
Temporary smoke and debris in parts of the building
Based on initial information:
Workers were refilling a gas cylinder or using one for maintenance when the gas cylinder suddenly leaked or malfunctioned and exploded.
The authorities are investigating whether it was faulty, mishandled, or improperly stored.
Gas-cylinder blasts are not an uncommon occurrence in Pakistan. Among the causes:
Poor quality cylinders
Over-fill
Lack of Safety Checks
Inexperienced handling
Impact on Court Operations
Although the explosion took place in the basement, court functioning was affected:
Impact Details
Temporary suspension of hearings: Some courtrooms paused proceedings for safety checks
Visitors and lawyers evacuated Movement restricted around the building
Psychological impact: Fear among lawyers, petitioners, and staff
High-profile cases could be delayed: Cases fixed for that day had been postponed.
For attorneys, even a short disruption can:
Delay urgent applications like bail, stay orders, and human rights cases
Postpone high-profile constitutional or political hearings
Affect deadlines and client commitments.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams, police, and firemen have arrived quickly.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
A security perimeter was established around the Supreme Court building.
It was first inspected to ensure that no structural damages were done.
Reactions
Although not a terror-related incident, it generated extensive concern due to the symbolic importance of the Supreme Court. Reactions included: A lawyers' community has demanded better security measures inside the country's Supreme Court. Public concerns have been raised on how such an incident could occur in a highly sensitive high-security zone. Calls for an audit of safety systems across major judicial buildings.
Why This Matters
Even though it was an accident, the incident shows:
Lack of safety protocols in major public institutions.
Need for regular maintenance audits
Importance of emergency preparedness in courts Because it is the courts that handle sensitive political and national matters, such disruptions tend to have legal, administrative, and national consequences.
