Sectarian clashes: Bhakkar calm after curfew’s imposition

Officials in the violence-hit Bhakkar district in Punjab say that the area is calm following the Friday’s sectarian clashes which claimed 12 lives.

The situation worsen after gunmen fired at the funeral of a local religious Ghulam Muhammad.

The District Coordination Officer (DCO) Bhakkar said curfew has not been clamped on the tension-hit areas‚ rather section-144 has been imposed.

He said that paramilitary Rangers have been deployed at Kotlajam‚ Darya Khan and Panjgarian and extra police contingents have also been called out to maintain law and order situation in the areas.

Two sectarian groups clashed in parts of the district on Friday that resulted into the death of twelve people and eight others were injured.

The clash between sectarian elements occurred in Bhakkar, police official Abdullah Khan said. People were killed on both sides, Khan said.

Heavy police contingent reached the scene to control the situation. Rangers and additional contingent of police have also been called to bring the situation under control.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the situation, saying those who break the law will be dealt with severely.

In order to ward off any further violence, a strict indefinite curfew has been imposed in Bhakkar and other restive districts on Saturday as the environment continues to remain hostile after the clashes.

According to police officials, the curfew will remain enforced until further orders in Bhakkar, Darya Khan, Kotla Jam, Panj Garaeen, and Kahawar Kalan as these districts are most vulnerable to violence.

The Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Qazi Zahoor Hussain said that all the institutes would remain closes in the cities under curfew, areas.

Both Sunni and Shia leaders have condemned the incidents and announced protest.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 24 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.