A suicide blast in the capital city's judicial complex that left at least 12 people dead and 30 wounded has come at a time when the country is at the crossroads of a renewed political struggle. Incidentally, the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were, on that day, hosting two international assemblages, the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference and the Margalla Dialogue, as well as a cricket match with Sri Lanka.

This gives credence to the possibility of a well-calculated terror plot aimed at furthering instability. The fact that the suicide bomber stood outside the court for a while and also tried to make his way into the premises thickens the plot. It also raises questions on the security arrangements that were unable to detect the presence of a high-value unscrupulous element.

See Full Page