Eleven killed in Bhakkar sectarian clashes
6
ISLAMABAD: Members of a radical Sunni group clashed on Friday with minority Shia's in central Pakistan, fighting that killed 11 people.
Six people had initially been killed in violence. The death toll has now increased after five people, who had been injured in the clashes, later succumbed to their injuries.
The clashes between Ahle Sunnat Waljamaat (ASWJ) members and the Shia's happened in the town of Bhakkar in Punjab province, police official Abdullah Khan said.
People were killed on both sides, Khan said.
The conflict followed a protest rally held by ASWJ after one of their members was gunned down while closing his shop.
Pakistan has experienced worsening sectarian violence in recent years, especially attacks by radical Sunnis targeting Shia's.
Also on Friday, gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside a Sunni seminary on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, killing two people and wounding a third, police official Mohammad Bashir said.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the clashes.
The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has condemned the clashes and have declared three days of mourning.
