Story Highlights
Lahore Bomb Blast
A powerful bomb blast in Lahore’s Gulshan-e- Iqbal Park killed over 70 people including women and children on Sunday evening as people were gathered to celebrate Easter. More than 200 people were also injured. The blast was just outside the exit gate and a few metres away from the children’s swings. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s Jamaatul Ahrar group claimed the responsibility of the attack. The Punjab government announced three-day mourning while national flag on official buildings in Punjab were hoisted half-mast. Meanwhile Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments observed a day’s mourning.
According to media reports, a decision was taken in a high level meeting chaired by army chief Gen Raheel Sharif that the army and Rangers will conduct a widespread operation across Punjab to target militants, their facilitators and their hideouts. Meanwhile according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, a number of suspects had been nabbed in five operations across Punjab while a huge cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered.
Meanwhile condemnation kept pouring in from leaders from around the world over the tragedy that claimed lives of innocent citizens. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the nation, following deadly blast in Lahore saying his government will not allow the terrorists to resurface and play with the lives of people. He also said that those creating violence, fanning hatred and sectarianism, and creating problems for the masses would surely be brought to justice.
Pro Qadri Sit-In
An estimated 25,000 supporters of Mumtaz Qadri, who was hanged last month, took Islamabad under siege for four days. Supporters of Mumtaz Qadri, who murdered the then Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in 2011, staged a sit-in outside the parliament and presented their demands. Authorities in Islamabad deployed hundreds of police and paramilitary soldiers on the streets of federal capital to control the mob.
Riot police carrying batons and shields fired tear gas at the mob however protesters removed containers and blockades on way to the Parliament House. The protesters presented a list of demands and were adamant not to disperse until the government accepts their demands. The four-day-long sit- in finally ended after agreeing to a seven-point ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the government. Sunni Tehreek chief Sarwat Ijaz Qadri said that the government had conceded to the major demand of imposition of Nizam-e-Mustafa (PBUH). He said the government has agreed to approach the Ministry of Religious Affairs for exclusion of all clauses in the law that are against Shariah.
Meanwhile the government has announced complete ban on all kinds of protests in the Red Zone of the federal capital. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that all those protestors who took the law into their own hands by damaging the public property and attacking government officials will be prosecuted.
Pak – India
Earlier this week Pakistani security forces arrested an agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), who is a serving Indian Navy officer. According to media reports RAW official, Kulbhushan Yadav, was arrested during an intelligence-based raid in Balochistan’s Chaman area. In a six-minute confessional video statement, issued by Information ministry, Yadav confessed to his involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan province and Karachi. According to media reports areas of Gwadar, Pasni, Jevani and other places in Balochistan were the target of the agent who wanted to sabotage future projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through subversive activities.
It is for the first time that Pakistan has arrested a serving officer of the Indian security forces working for RAW inside its territory. The spokesperson of Pakistan army said the agent was either involved or had information about many terror acts, including Mehran Base attack, bomb blast in Gwadar, and Baloch nationalists’ terrorist activities.
Meanwhile Pakistan vows to resolve all issues with India through negotiations, including Pak- India foreign secretary meeting, despite any incident. However, Foreign Office spokesperson Zakaria said the issue of RAW agent’s arrested will be raised on every international forum, including the United Nations (UN).
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