CM Maryam cancels mega Basant 2026 show after Islamabad blast tragedy
Pakistan
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz cancels all her Basant activities and deploys emergency ambulances after a deadly Islamabad mosque blast kills 31 and injures 169.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has cancelled all her Basant-related activities in light of the Islamabad tragedy, including the highly anticipated mega Basant show at Liberty Square.
Posting on social media platform X, she stated that the decision was taken to express national solidarity and condemned the Khwarji menace and their sympathisers.
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.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 6, 2026
P.S: It is imperative that the nation remains united against the Khwarji menace and their…
Following the deadly suicide blast at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in Islamabad’s Tarlai area, the Punjab chief minister immediately dispatched 25 fully equipped emergency ambulances to the capital. The attack, which occurred during Friday prayers, claimed the lives of at least 31 people and left 169 injured. Hospitals across Rawalpindi were placed on high alert to manage the surge of casualties.
Maryam Nawaz instructed that surgical teams, anaesthetists, orthopaedic specialists, and neurosurgeons be on standby. Blood banks ensured full staff availability, while operation theatres were readied with necessary medical equipment.
Punjab CM dispatches 25 ambulances after deadly Islamabad blast
She also directed the Rawalpindi commissioner and deputy commissioner to provide full logistical support to strengthen coordination between Islamabad and Rawalpindi facilities.
Islamabad blast
Eyewitnesses reported that the attacker was stopped at the entrance by security guards before detonating explosives. Gunfire was exchanged prior to the explosion, which occurred when the hall was crowded with worshippers. Rescue teams promptly transported the injured and deceased to nearby hospitals, while law enforcement agencies, including Pakistan
Army troops and Rangers, cordoned off the area and launched a search and investigation operation.
At least 31 dead, 169 injured in suicide blast at Islamabad mosque
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, confirmed an emergency was declared at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Polyclinic Hospital, and the Capital Development Authority hospital. PIMS reported receiving 18 bodies and over 78 injured persons, while Rawalpindi’s Benazir Bhutto Hospital received four injured victims, one of whom later died during treatment.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though police sources indicated that initial assessments linked the assault to militants described as Fitna al-Khawarij.
Maryam Nawaz emphasised that no leniency should be shown towards Khwarji elements, urging citizens to stand with the armed forces in defending the country.
