Officials described the attack as a major security lapse as a truck packed with explosives had managed to get through the tight security arrangements around Constitution Avenue.
An emergency has been declared in all hospitals in Islamabad, including the premier Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Zardari and Gilani strongly condemned the suicide blast and expressed shock and grief over the loss of innocent lives. They directed authorities to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a report within 12 hours.
(Reuters, with wire reports)
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