MIANWALI, Aug 25: The situation is gradually returning to normality in Bhakkar city after sectarian clashes on Friday in which at least 10 people lost their lives. However, the tense atmosphere still prevails in troubled areas, including Darya Khan, Kotla Jam and Panjgrain, where police contingents are patrolling while tight security is being provided at Imambargahs in these areas.

The curfew imposed in troubled areas on Saturday was lifted on Sunday morning to normalise the situation.

Reports said that on Sunday noon suddenly announcements were made through mosques in troubled areas about the re-imposing of curfew and section 144.

The abrupt announcements created panic among the people busy in buying eatables in the market and they started rushing to their homes. In no time the streets and roads became deserted while rangers and other law enforcers started patrolling.

It is learnt that the curfew was re-imposed when some women of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen staged a sit-in in Hussaini Chowk, Kotla Jam, for about two hours to press the police to arrest the killers of their three activists.

Meanwhile, a complete shutter down strike was observed on Sunday in Darya Khan and Kaloor Kot tehsils on the call of Anjuman Tajran in protest against sectarian clashes, loss of lives and failure of law enforcing agencies.

On the complaint of Munir Ahmed of Darya Khan, the Bhakkar Saddar police registered a case against 79 nominated, including some prominent members of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, and 70 unknown persons for murdering six activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat under sections 302, 324, 435, 148, 149 PPC and ATA.

Earlier, the police had registered a murder case of three persons of MWM against 30 nominated persons, including prominent leaders of ASWJ and some unknown persons under sections 302, 324, 148, 149 PPC and the ATA.

The police and other law enforcement agencies arrested 20 each suspects of both sects and shifted them to some unknown place.