Renewed resolve: Those behind park bombing will be punished, says Shahbaz

CM visits two bereaved families in Sahiwal, pledges free treatment for injured

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday those behind Sunday’s suicide attack at Lahore’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park would be brought to justice.

“Those who have shed the blood of innocent people will not escape punishment,” the chief minister said during his visit to Chak 86/6-R in Sahiwal where he met two victims of the Sunday bombing.

“The incident has left the nation grieving… but the tragedy has also strengthened our resolve to fight terrorism. These sacrifices will not go to waste,” Sharif said. He said that Pakistan would be made a haven of peace. He said no efforts would be spared to win the country’s war against terrorism.

The chief minister also offered fateha for the departed souls.

Sakina Bibi, a 55-year-old resident of Chak 86/6-R, and Javeria, 2, had died in the bombing. The chief minister announced a government job for Moazma, Sakina’s daughter. He also handed a cheque for Rs2 million to her family. A cheque for Rs1 million was handed over to Javeria’s family.

As many as 30 members of the family were injured in the bomb blast.

The chief minister announced that the provincial government would bear the expenses to be incurred on the treatment of two ailing children and an elderly woman of the family. He said the Punjab government would leave no stoned unturned to make the province safe and secure for its residents.

British high commissioner condemns attack

British High Commissioner Thomas Drew called on the chief minister on Thursday and condemned the park attack.

Drew expressed grief over the loss of lives. The high commissioner said that Britain was in solidarity with the people of Pakistan in this hour of grief.

Sharif called the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park attack “the worst incident” in the [country’s] history. He said the nation was united against terrorism.

“Terrorism is a problem common to the world… it has to be dealt with collectively. Many Muslims were killed in the attack meant for Christians. This menace affects all of us.”

Sharif said that there was no room for extremism in Pakistan. He said that all-out efforts would be made to make Pakistan a haven of peace.

Park attack: Death toll rises to 75

A woman who had been injured in a suicide bombing at Lahore’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Sunday succumbed to the wounds on Thursday, raising the death toll to 75. Saima Ayaz, a resident of Sahiwal, had been undergoing treatment at Jinnah Hospital. The family took the body to Sahiwal.

Separately, a five-member Joint Investigation Team probing the attack visited the hospitals and the park and recorded statements of witnesses, including security guards and police officials deployed at the park at the time of the explosion.

The JIT has also sent some evidence collected from the site to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2016.