Maryam Nawaz cancels her Basant activities following Islamabad blast

By Bilal Haider :

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced that she had cancelled all Basant-related engagements planned for Saturday in response to the deadly suicide attack in Islamabad that left at least 31 people dead.

In a message shared on X, the chief minister said the major Basant event scheduled to take place at Liberty Square in Lahore would no longer go ahead in light of the tragic incident at an imambargah in the Tarlai area of the federal capital.

She stressed the importance of national unity against extremist violence, saying the country must stand firmly against terrorists and their supporters and show solidarity with the armed forces in defending Pakistan.

The three-day Basant festival began in Lahore on Friday after the Punjab government officially lifted a ban that had been in place for more than two decades. Authorities had introduced strict safety protocols to minimise risks associated with kite flying.

Maryam Nawaz’s decision followed a similar step by the Sindh government, which cancelled the musical portion of the Cultural Night being held for the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the official dinner in honour of the visiting delegation would still take place but without music, as a mark of respect for the victims of the Islamabad tragedy.

According to officials, at least 31 people lost their lives and 169 others were injured when a suicide bomber detonated himself during Friday prayers at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area.

Eyewitnesses reported that the attacker was intercepted at the entrance of the mosque. They said the assailants first opened fire and then triggered the explosion after guards attempted to stop them.

Witnesses added that the main gate is located around 30 metres from the imambargah’s entrance, and the blast occurred after a brief exchange of fire with security personnel.