ISLAMABAD: Lawyers in the federal capital observed a strike and the District Courts Complex remained closed on Wednesday following the suicide blast outside the courts that claimed the lives of at least a dozen people, prompting authorities to introduce sweeping new security measures across the premises.

The District Bar Association had directed lawyers, clerks and litigants not to attend court. District Bar President Naeem Gujar and other office-bearers appealed to the legal community to stay home.

The bar association announced a three-day mourning period and a one-day strike, while the Islamabad Bar Council also declared a three-day strike in protest against the tragic incident.

Due to the strike, clerks were barred from entering the court premises. The court staff rescheduled all pending cases, displaying updated cause lists outside the complex and instructing clerks to appear on the next hearing date. As a result, proceedings in more than a thousand cases were adjourned.

Only judges allowed inside judicial complex amid heightened security, restricted access

Only judges were allowed inside the complex amid heightened security and restricted access.

In response to the incident, a high-level meeting was held at the District Courts Complex to review and strengthen security arrangements. The meeting was attended by Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, District and Sessions Judges Nasir Javed Rana and Muhammad Yar Gondal, IHC Bar President Wajid Gilani, Secretary Manzoor Jaja and senior police officials, including the DIG Security and AIG Special Branch.

During the briefing, officials outlined a comprehensive plan to bolster the complex’s security. It was decided that walk-through gates and scanners would be installed at all entrances, and visitors’ luggage would be allowed only after clearance through scanners.

A zigzag grill will also be erected at the main entry point to regulate movement, while the deployment of snipers on rooftops for surveillance was proposed.

The meeting further decided to conduct training and mock exercises for lawyers and staff to prepare them for emergency situations. Special Branch personnel will be stationed at the entry gates for security checks, and an ambulance will remain permanently parked outside the complex.

To ensure full vigilance, the use of mobile phones by on-duty security personnel will be restricted.

Later, IHC judges Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas visited the judicial complex along with Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana, IHC Bar President Wajid Gilani and District Bar President Naeem Gujar.

The visiting judges were briefed on the details of the blast and the new security measures being implemented to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025