Nawaz Sharif's Promise to Eliminate Terrorists After 70 Killed in Lahore

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, on Monday, April 9, promised to destroy the perpetrators of terrorist attacks a day after a suicide bombing targeting Christians in Lahore, which resulted in 70 deaths. The bombing occurred on Sunday in a park where Christians had gathered to celebrate Easter, leading to the deaths of 70 people. After a meeting with the country's security officials, the Prime Minister referred to the attackers as 'cowardly individuals' and vowed to eradicate 'extremist thinking.' He also canceled his planned trip to Britain. Earlier in March, Sharif had recognized public holidays for religious minorities, including Holi for Hindus and Easter for Christians. According to the Associated Press, the bombing on Sunday demonstrated the militants' ability to conduct large-scale operations despite months of the Pakistani government's efforts against them, and it reflects the precarious situation of the Christian minority in the country. A splinter group of the Taliban, named 'Jamaat-ul-Ahrar,' which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for the bombing. Meanwhile, extremists protested for the second consecutive day in Islamabad, the capital, in front of Parliament and other main buildings in the city center. Protesters, who set cars on fire, demanded the establishment of Sharia law in the country. Army forces, dispatched on Sunday to confront the protesters, remained in the streets. Reports indicate that the army has raided organizations of several extremist militant groups based in eastern Punjab, detaining a number of extremists. Monday also marked three days of national mourning in the country. The Lahore bombing occurred in a park where many families had gathered, many of whom were women and children. At least 300 people were also injured in the incident. Despite Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claiming that Christians were specifically targeted, most of the casualties in this bombing were Muslims who had gone to the park for the Sunday holiday. This park is one of the popular areas in central Lahore. According to Muhammad Iqbal, the police chief of Lahore, investigations revealed that 14 of the victims were Christians and 44 were Muslims, while the identities of 12 others remain unknown. Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told the Associated Press that the bombing's target was not only Christians but also a protest against the Pakistani army's operations in tribal areas. This group had also claimed responsibility for two bombings at a Christian church in Lahore last year. In recent weeks, Islamic parties in Pakistan have threatened to hold widespread protests against what they call Nawaz Sharif's pro-West stance. They have also rejected a draft provincial bill in Punjab that would criminalize violence against women.