Pakistani Taliban Claim Responsibility for Islamabad Courthouse Bombing

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured 27.

The group said judges, lawyers and officials who «issued decisions under un-Islamic laws» were the target. They also warned they would continue attacks until Islamic law is implemented in Pakistan.

Earlier on Tuesday, a suicide attacker tried to enter the courthouse but failed. He then detonated his explosives near a police vehicle, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said. The blast was strong enough to be heard miles away.

Pakistani authorities initially blamed the Taliban, but the group denied involvement before later confirming responsibility. The attack comes amid rising militant violence across the country.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber approved an Islamic banking bill in its second and final readings, advancing a landmark framework to the Senate that would legalise Sharia-compliant finance and amend the Tax Code, Civil Code and eight other laws.