CM Maryam cancels Basant events following Islamabad imambargah blast

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday cancelled all her Basant-related engagements following a suicide blast at an imambargah in Islamabad on Friday that killed at least 31 people and injured dozens.

Police and administration officials confirmed that a massive bomb tore through the Tarlai area imambargah on Friday, claiming the lives of at least 31 worshippers and injuring 169.

In posts on X, CM Maryam condemned the incident and announced the cancellation of all her Basant-related engagements for Saturday. 

“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,” she said.

Calling for national resolve against terrorism, the chief minister said it was imperative that the nation remained united against terrorists and their “sympathisers”, showed them no mercy and stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in defence of the country.

She also urged citizens to stand united and undivided, stressing the need to eradicate terrorism and reclaim peace and happiness from the clutches of the assailants.

“This is our country and we must vow to protect it from the assailants. It is our job too. Rise to the challenge,” the chief minister said.

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 in Islamabad.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced the development on X.

“In solidarity with the families of those martyred in today’s tragic Islamabad blast, the PPP Sindh government has decided to cancel the musical segment of the cultural night planned in honour of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association,” he said.

“We share the pain of the bereaved families. The dinner will be held simply, without music, out of respect for the victims and our national grief,” Memon added.

The three-day Basant festival officially began today, with Lahore slipping into festive mode, its skyline punctured by soaring kites and streets awash in colour, anticipation, and tightly managed order, marking the festival’s return after nearly two decades.

Read: Lahore erupts with sounds of ‘bo-kata’ as Basant returns

Fireworks lit the night sky past midnight, kites rose from rooftops, and music drifted through the Walled City and beyond in the city long known as the home of ‘patang-baaz’ — kite flyers by instinct.

Markets traditionally associated with Basant, such as Mochi Gate, Delhi Gate, Shah Alam Market and Anarkali, remained crowded late into the night, as buyers stocked up on kites, spools, fairy lights and festive trimmings.

The national mood turned dreary after the horrifying attack that elicited condemnations from across the political spectrum and from multiple foreign embassies and countries.