ISLAMABAD (MNN); The federal government on Friday announced that Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams have arrested four operatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan/Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP/FAK) linked to the deadly suicide attack at the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, G-11.
According to an official statement shared on X, Sajidullah alias Sheena, the handler of the suicide bomber, confessed during interrogation that TTP/FAK Commander Saeed-ur-Rehman alias Daadullah, based in Afghanistan and serving as the TTP’s intelligence chief for Bajaur and Nawagai, directed him via Telegram to carry out the attack in Islamabad targeting maximum law enforcement casualties.
The statement added that Daadullah sent pictures of the suicide bomber, Usman alias Qari, a resident of Achin, Nangarhar, Afghanistan, to Sajidullah for coordination. Sajidullah arranged Qari’s stay near Islamabad and, under Daadullah’s orders, collected a suicide jacket from Akhun Baba graveyard in Peshawar to hand over to the bomber on the day of the blast.
“The network was guided at every step by the Afghanistan-based TTP/FAK high command,” the statement said. Authorities confirmed that the commander and three other cell members have been arrested, with further investigations and arrests expected.
The suicide blast at the Judicial Complex killed 12 people and injured at least 36, including lawyers and petitioners. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the attacker detonated near a police vehicle after failing to enter the courthouse. The explosion set nearby cars ablaze and scattered debris across the area. Police reported that the bomber had arrived in Islamabad last Friday and traveled to the court from Pirwadhai on a motorcycle.
This attack marked Islamabad’s first suicide bombing in nearly three years, coinciding with major international events in the city, including the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference and the sixth Margalla Dialogue.
Earlier this week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan could conduct strikes inside Afghanistan in response to recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and South Waziristan, criticizing the Afghan Taliban for harboring militants.
A day before the Judicial Complex blast, militants infiltrated Wana Cadet College. Security forces successfully evacuated all students and staff and neutralized the attackers. According to ISPR, “Heinous and cowardly terrorists backed by India” tried to breach the college perimeter with an explosive-laden vehicle, but two were killed immediately and three others were later neutralized.
