The Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park massacre made usually cheerful Lahorites sad and gloomy. It was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a public park was targeted by the terrorists. In this suicidal attack, about 75 persons, including 30 children, lost their lives while another 320 were injured.
In the aftermath of this tragic incident, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cancelled his visit to USA on Nuclear Security Summit. World leaders, including Prime Minister of India Narindra Modi, expressed condolences over the loss of so many lives. French President François Hollande, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and many more condemned the deadly incident. UK’s David Cameron ordered the British High Commission in Pakistan to mourn the incident by raising the Union Jack at half mast.
Even Pope Francis prayed for the victims of Lahore blast. But I was amazed that not a single leader of any Muslim country, except for Turkey’s Recep Erdogan, showed solidarity with Pakistan at this time of gloom. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which lit the colours of Belgium just a few days ago, did not adopt the colours of the Pakistani flag after the Lahore incident. So was the case with Makkah Tower in Saudi Arabia. Not a single Muslim country arranged prayers for the victims of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park blast.
Being a proud nation, Pakistanis don’t seek sympathies of other nations in this time of ordeal. Yet, consolations from brotherly nations do mitigate the feelings of loss besides elevating its morale. This has led me to believe that our Muslim countries don’t stand with Pakistan at difficult times the way they expect from us.