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Pakistan PM cancels U.S. visit over Lahore bomb attack

Xinhua, March 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled a visit to the United States after a Taliban suicide bomber killed nearly 70 in Lahore, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The prime minister was scheduled to leave for Washington on Monday to represent Pakistan at a nuclear summit.

"In view of the terrorist attack in Lahore, which took a heavy toll on the lives of innocent citizens of Pakistan and caused injuries to scores of people, the Prime Minister has decided to cancel his visit to Washington to attend the Nuclear Security Summit," the Foreign Ministry said.

The Pakistan's delegation to the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington will now be led by the Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi, the ministry said in a statement.

"Pakistan has actively participated in the NSS (Nuclear Suppliers Group) process and has developed a robust Command and Control System and multi-layered security of its nuclear program. Pakistan cooperates closely with IAEA," it said.

Sharif spent the entire day in Lahore condoling with the bereaved families, as well as visiting the hospitals to meet those injured in the terrorist attack.

He expressed solidarity with and complete support to the victims' families and reassured that the perpetrators behind the heinous attack would be brought to justice.

The blast, claimed by a Pakistani Taliban splinter group "Jamaat-ul-Ahrar," was carried out by a suicide bomber in a crowded public park in Lahore on Sunday evening. More than 300 people were wounded in the attack. Enditem