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More than 200 held after Pakistan detains 5,000 over Easter bombing

Pakistan has held 216 suspects after a major sweep by the military and the police saw more than 5,000 detained over the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attack.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to crack down on Islamist militants in the country after the attack in Lahore claimed the lives of more than 70 people, including 29 children.

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Pakistan PM: We will avenge every drop of blood spilled

Pakistan will "avenge every drop of blood" spilled in a suicide bomb attack at a public park on Easter Sunday, the country's Prime Minister has vowed.

Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, addressed the nation Credit: APTN

In an emotional televised address, Nawaz Sharif condemned a series of terrorist strikes across Pakistan in recent months - the latest of which left at least 70 people, including 29 children, dead and hundreds more injured.

My brothers and sisters, today again I am here to renew my commitment that we will avenge every drop of the blood of our martyred people and we are doing that, and we will not rest until we have accounted for everything to the end.

We will not let them raise their heads again, we will not allow them to play the lives of the people of Pakistan. This is my resolve, this is my government's resolve and this is the resolve of the 200 million people of Pakistan.

God willing, no terrorist can put a dent in our resolve.

– Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan

He said the army would forge on with its operation targeting militant hideouts, and said police would hunt down extremists.

The impact of the operations to date were the reason behind the terrorists choosing "soft targets" such as playgrounds and schools, he added.

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