Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the cancellation of her scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/lahore-reclaims-its-sky-as-basant-returns-after-two-decades" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Basant-related engagements</a>, including a major official event in Lahore, following a deadly suicide blast at a Shiite Imambargah in Islamabad.&nbsp;&ldquo;In the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-condemns-mosque-blast-orders-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Islamabad tragedy</a>, I am cancelling all my Basant-related activities that were scheduled for tomorrow,&rdquo; Sharif said in a post.&nbsp;She added, &ldquo;The mega Basant show at the Liberty Square also stands cancelled.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2019789804121235457&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e0e07450beb7a6cf411979d4f55f4636fc22cf37&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2019789804121235457"></iframe></div></div>She stressed that the decision was taken in light of the national security situation and called for unity against militancy.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is imperative that the nation remains united against the Khwarji [terrorists] menace and their &lsquo;sympathisers&rsquo;, shows them no mercy, and stands shoulder to shoulder with our Armed Forces in defense of the country,&rdquo; she wrote, concluding with, &ldquo;Pakistan Zindabad.&rdquo;&nbsp;The announcement followed a suicide blast at the Imambargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in Islamabad&rsquo;s Tarlai area during Friday prayers. At least 31 people were killed and 169 wounded, according to officials, with the toll expected to rise as several injured remain in critical condition.&nbsp;In a separate statement, the Punjab chief minister outlined emergency measures ordered by her government to assist victims. &ldquo;25 fully equipped emergency ambulances have been dispatched to Islamabad for the victims of the Imambargah blast,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She added that &ldquo;all hospitals across Rawalpindi District have been placed on high alert, with surgical teams, anesthetists, orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists on standby.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to her post, &ldquo;blood banks are fully staffed, and operation theatres are fully equipped to ensure prompt and effective medical care for the injured,&rdquo; while the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi had been directed &ldquo;to extend every possible assistance.&rdquo;&nbsp;Expressing grief over the attack, Sharif said she was &ldquo;deeply saddened by the tragic blast at an Imambargah in Islamabad.&rdquo;&nbsp;She added, &ldquo;My heart goes out to the victims and their families during this painful time. Prayers for the swift recovery of the injured, and may Allah grant patience and strength to all those affected. Ameen.&rdquo;&nbsp;The blast occurred amid heightened security challenges in Pakistan and cast a shadow over Basant, the spring kite-flying festival that had just returned to Lahore after authorities lifted a ban in place for more than two decades for a limited three-day period.&nbsp;While Basant festivities continued across the city, Sharif&rsquo;s decision made clear that official government celebrations and her personal participation would not go ahead, reflecting the somber national mood following the Islamabad tragedy.

Security

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, cancels her Basant activities and a Lahore event after an Islamabad suicide blast, while mobilizing emergency medical support.

Punjab CM cancels her Basant activities, Lahore event after Islamabad blast

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has arrested four members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cell behind the Nov. 11 suicide bombing outside Islamabad&rsquo;s G-11 District Judicial Complex, including the group&rsquo;s commander, according to an official government statement released Friday. The suspects were detained in a joint Intelligence Bureau and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation that dismantled what authorities described as a Fitna al-Khawarij network, Pakistan&rsquo;s term for the TTP, invoking a historical radical sect known for rebellion and violent extremism. According to the statement, Sajidullah, alias Sheena, identified as the handler of the bomber, &ldquo;confessed&rdquo; during interrogation that TTP/FAK Commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, alias Daadullah, had tasked him with carrying out an attack in Islamabad &ldquo;to cause maximum casualties of law enforcement agencies.&rdquo; The government said, &ldquo;TTP/FAK Commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, alias Daadullah, a resident of Charmang, Bajaur, and currently in Afghanistan, contacted Sajidullah, alias Sheena, through the Telegram application to carry out a suicide attack in Islamabad.&rdquo; It added, &ldquo;Daadullah sent pictures of the suicide bomber Usman, alias Qari, to Sajidullah for receiving him upon his arrival.&rdquo; The statement continued: &ldquo;Suicide bomber Usman, alias Qari, belonged to the Shinwari tribe and was a resident of Achin, Nangarhar, Afghanistan.&rdquo; It said, &ldquo;When he reached Pakistan from Afghanistan, Sajidullah, alias Sheena, arranged his stay in a residence near Islamabad.&rdquo; Following Daadullah&rsquo;s instructions, &ldquo;Sajidullah, alias Sheena, collected a suicide jacket from Akhun Baba graveyard in Peshawar and brought it to Islamabad.&rdquo; On the day of the attack, the statement added, &ldquo;Sajidullah Sheena set the suicide jacket on SB Usman, alias Qari.&rdquo; The network was &ldquo;handled and guided at every step&rdquo; by the Afghanistan-based TTP leadership, the statement said, confirming that &ldquo;the entire cell involved in the incident, including its commander and three other members, has been arrested.&rdquo; Authorities said investigations are continuing and that &ldquo;more revelations and arrests are expected.&rdquo; At least 12 people were martyred and dozens injured when the attacker detonated explosives outside the District Judicial Complex after being prevented from entering the premises. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier said the bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle at approximately 12:39 p.m.

In a joint operation conducted by Pakistan’s intelligence and CTD, authorities arrest four TTP-linked militants accused of orchestrating the Islamabad judicial complex bombing.

Articles tagged with "Islamabad blast"

Punjab CM cancels her Basant activities, Lahore event after Islamabad blast

Pakistan arrests four Afghanistan-based TTP terrorists over Islamabad bombing