RAWALPINDI: Autho­rities have arrested seven suspects apparently in connection with a recent explosion in the federal capital that claimed 12 lives and injured more than 20 individuals earlier this week.

A police source said the Rawalpindi Counter-Terr­orism Department deta­ined seven alleged suspects from “Rawal­pindi’s Fauji Colony (Pirwadhai area) and Dhoke Kashmirian. Moreover, a raid was also conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.

Sources said the police, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Rawalpindi Counter-Terrorism Depart­ment arrested suspects from areas in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, using technology and human intelligence.

The Islamabad Safe City Authority assisted in tracking the routes and movement of the suicide bomber and his alleged facilitators. Besides, other intelligence agencies also assisted and collected details and information from other provinces.

Among the suspects were two alleged facilitators and one alleged handler. The three detained individuals were natives of Bajaur district, while the suicide bomber and the mastermind of the attack were allegedly Afghans, sources said, adding that the bomber was said to be in his mid-20s.

They added that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and the prime target was the courtroom. However, due to security measures by the capital police at the judicial complex, the suicide bomber failed to enter the premises and blew himself up outside the complex.

Sources claimed that the bomber came from Afghanistan two weeks ago and stayed at different places in Rawalpindi before moving to Chungi No. 26 on the outskirts of Islamabad. During his stay, he remained in touch with the facilitators and the handlers who assisted him.

On Tuesday, the suicide bomber and one of the facilitators went to the judicial complex on different motorcycles via an online bike service hired from Chungi No. 26. They reached the complex one after another, and the facilitator remained in the area till the blast.

The police also interrogated two riders of the online services and cleared them. However, both were still in protective custody.

The report on the explosives was also awaited. Sources, however, said that about 8kg of explosive was used and ball bearings were also attached to the jacket. A case had already been registered at the Islamabad CTD police station.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025