Pakistan puts off world record bid due to security concerns

Pakistan authorities today put off an attempt to create a world record for the most people singing the national anthem because of security concerns.
"The event of most people singing the national anthem has been postponed because of security issues," a Punjab government spokesman said.
The event, scheduled to be held on Monday, was put off for an indefinite period.
The record for the maximum number of people singing the national anthem is currently held by India.
A senior police officer told PTI that intelligence agencies had told the government about possible attempts by terrorists to sabotage the event to be held on the grounds of the Punjab University in Lahore.

"Since the government has been targeting hideouts of militants in tribal areas, they can respond by targeting such a gathering," the official said.

"The government cannot provide a soft target to the Taliban in the current scenario," he added.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood, however, gave a different reason for the postponement. "We needed more space for setting the world record. The venue turned out to be small," he said.
Earlier, the Punjab government finalised preparations for the singing of the national anthem by 150,000 people as part of a youth festival.
The government directed vice-chancellors of universities and principals of colleges to send the maximum number of students to the venue.

Following the government's instructions, almost all vice- chancellors and principals in Lahore had rolled up their sleeves and begun arrangements to send students to the event to put Pakistan in the Guinness Book of World Records.