DERA ISMAIL KHAN, May 26: Seven people were killed and five others injured in what appeared to be incidents of sectarian violence here on Monday.

Witnesses said four people, three of them close relatives, were killed when they came under fire when they were going to court in a rickshaw.

The deceased were identified as Syed Bashir Hussain Shah, a retired tehsildar, his brother Syed Kifayat Hussain Shah, nephew Syed Ghaur Abbas and their neighbour Syed Hassan Shah. The rickshaw driver escaped unhurt.

The assailants, who were on a motorbike, also fired on a police team going to a checkpoint, killing constable Qismatullah.

Later, some people opened fire on a member of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, Abdur Rasheed, on the University Road, killing him on the spot. A shopkeeper was injured in Jogianwala Bazzar.

The FIR of the first incident was registered at the Cantt police station.

Relatives of the deceased blamed the rival sect for the attack.

A number of people protesting against the attack, blocked the Dera- Zhob road for some time.

They placed the bodies near the Mission Hospital and Thopawala Square and demanded immediate arrest of the killers.

Unidentified gunmen also killed naib nazim of union council Dewala, Tariq Jamil, and seriously wounded two others. The attackers riding a motorbike opened fire on Mr Jamil outside his house.

Funeral of policeman Qismatullah was held in the Police Lines area, attended by a large number of people, including additional AIG Haji Habibur Rehman and DPO Abdul Ghaffar Qaisrani.— Irfan Mughal