Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced the cancellation of all her Basant-related engagements scheduled for Saturday, following a deadly suicide attack in Islamabad that left at least 31 people martyred.
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.
P.S: It is imperative that the nation remains united against the Khwarji menace and their…
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 6, 2026
In a post on X, the chief minister said the mega Basant event planned at Lahore’s Liberty Square had been called off in the wake of the bombing inside an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area. She stressed the need for national unity against what she described as the Khawarji terrorist threat and its sympathisers, urging the country to stand firmly alongside the armed forces in defence of Pakistan.
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The three-day Basant festival began in Lahore earlier on Friday after Punjab formally lifted a more than two-decade ban, with authorities enforcing strict safety measures to curb incidents linked to kite flying.
CM Maryam’s decision follows a similar move by the Sindh government, which cancelled the musical segment of the Cultural Night organised for the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the dinner in honour of the visiting delegates would proceed without music as a mark of respect for the victims.
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Officials confirmed that at least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured when a suicide bomber detonated himself inside Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers.
According to eyewitnesses, the attacker was stopped at the entrance of the imambargah, after which he opened fire and forced his way inside. Guards attempted to intercept him near the main gate, located around 30 metres from the building, triggering an exchange of fire. The bomber then ran approximately 20 metres into the imambargah and blew himself up while prayers were underway.
