Lahore, February 6, 2026 — The Europe Today: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced the cancellation of all her scheduled activities related to Basant festivities, citing the prevailing security situation in the country.
In a statement, the chief minister confirmed that the mega Basant show planned at Liberty Square has been called off and that she has withdrawn from all events scheduled for Saturday. She stressed that the nation stands united against terrorists and their facilitators, adding that no leniency would be shown to extremists and that no compromise would be made on Pakistan’s defense.
Maryam Nawaz urged the Pakistani nation not to succumb to despair, saying the time had come to take a clear and united stand to eradicate terrorism. She said peace and prosperity must be reclaimed from the grip of terrorists and their sympathizers, emphasizing that protecting the country from aggressors is a collective responsibility, national duty, and moral obligation.
The decision follows a deadly suicide bombing during Friday prayers at the Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, which claimed at least 31 lives and left more than 150 people injured. Police said the explosion occurred while worshippers were offering prayers.
According to government sources, the suicide bomber has been identified and was reportedly trained for terrorist activities in Afghanistan. In the aftermath of the attack, security has been tightened across the country.
