More than 200 people have been detained in Pakistan in the hunt for those behind the Easter Sunday bombing that killed at least 70 people in Lahore. Punjab’s Law Minister said those held were among more than 5,000 questioned in a sweeping counter-terror offensive. Weapons and ammunition have also been seized in raids by security forces. Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar said it carried out the attack against Christians celebrating Easter, although most of those killed were Muslims. He said 56 intelligence operations had been jointly carried out by police, paramilitary, army and intelligence forces.
Both Pakistan’s Prime Minister and the powerful Army Chief have vowed to bring the attackers to justice. Reports say the military is preparing to launch a new crackdown in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and wealthiest province – and the heartland of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s support.