Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced the cancellation of all her Basant-related activities scheduled for Saturday, including the highly anticipated mega Basant show at Liberty Square in Lahore, following a devastating suicide bombing in Islamabad that claimed at least 31 lives.
In a post on social media platform X, CM Maryam stated: “In the wake of the Islamabad tragedy, I am cancelling all my Basant-related activities that were scheduled for tomorrow. The mega Basant show at the Liberty Square also stands cancelled”.
The decision came hours after a suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Tarlai area of the federal capital left bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted floor surrounded by shards of glass and debris. The explosion occurred during Friday prayers, injuring an additional 169 people.
Calling for national resolve against terrorism, the chief minister emphasized that it was imperative that the nation remained united against terrorists and their sympathizers, showed them no mercy, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in defence of the country.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari confirmed that all Basant activities for Saturday were cancelled, stating: “The only thing that bothered our enemy was that Pakistan’s positive image should not come before the world”.
Maryam Nawaz stated that the cancellations were necessary to respect the victims and maintain national solidarity. The cancellation marked an abrupt end to celebrations that had begun just hours earlier after the government lifted a 25-year ban on the spring festival.
In a similar gesture, the Sindh government also cancelled the musical segment of the cultural night planned in honour of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association, in solidarity with the families of those killed
