Easter Day suicide bombing in Lahore that left 72 people dead and hundreds injured has taken the whole nation in a state of distress and sadness.
The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who blew himself up in the crowded Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park as Christians were celebrating Easter, Christendom s holiest day.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his “grief and sorrow over the sad demise of innocent lives”.
Three-day mourning is being observed in Punjab as announced by provincial Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif.
Besides this, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces are also observing a day of mourning today.
Flags on all governmental buildings in all the four provinces are flying at half-mast.
In a show of solidarity with the victims, all the business centres and markets have been shut down.
Trader associations have said that they have closed their businesses to express sympathy with the sufferers.
After the announcement of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, private schools across the country are closed although government schools are opened.
However, there is no change in the schedule of Class-IX and Class-X board examination yet the staff has tied black arm bands.
Besides this, Sindh Bar Council has also announced a day of morning.
Condolences and condemnation on the attack are pouring in from all over the world.
His Indian counterpart Narendra Modi telephoned to say “the people of India stand with their Pakistani brethren in this hour of grief,” state media reported.
The US labelled the incident “cowardly” while Pakistan’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai tweeted: “Pakistan and the world must unite. Every life is precious and must be respected and protected.”