GUJRAT, March 3: A sectarian clash left two people dead and 44 injured at Phalia in Mandi Bahauddin district on Tuesday. Sources said the clash occurred when Syed Ejaz Hussain Naqvi , provincial senior vice-president of the TJP, took out an unauthorized procession from Imambargah Qasre Ali Imran in the Amir locality.

The Lahore High Court had ruled in 1974 that Zuljinah procession on Yaum-i-Ashur would remain inside Qasre Ali Imran. Mr Naqvi had filed an application with the Mandi Bahauddin district and sessions judge before Muharram, seeking permission for a Zuljinah procession outside the Imambargah. The judge referred the case to DPO Waqar Haider and the district management.

A memorandum signed by some 65 people of another sect was sent to the president, the prime minister, the Punjab governor, the chief minister, the district Nazim, the IG, the Gujranwala DIG and the Mandi DPO, warning of a law and order situation if Mr Naqvi was given the permission.

The DPO restrained Mr Naqvi from taking out the procession. Imambargah caretaker Syed Safdar Ali Bokhari, who was reportedly not in favour of a procession outside the Imambargah without permission, was allegedly locked in a room of Imambargah by Mr Naqvi and his 30 accomplices, who took to street along with the Zuljinah.

A source said that a heavy contingent of police was present outside the Imambargah, but it did not try to stop the procession. However, the processionists were to soon find their way blocked by around 200 activists of a rival sect, who pelted them with stones.

The police used tear-gas, batons and aerial firing to disperse the attackers. But as more and more people joined the attackers, the police escaped from the scene, as did Mr Naqvi and his men. Many people were injured on both sides.

Then the angry mob gathered outside the residence of Mr Naqvi. Somebody on the rooftop of Mr Naqvi's residence opened fire, injuring two youths, Abid and Nasir Butt. The mob also opened fire on the house.

A two-hour crossfire left Mr Naqvi and one Mian Khan dead and many people injured on both sides. The police stood by 200 yards away, a source said. The angry mob also set fire to the residence of Mr Naqvi.

The Phalia police have registered two cases against around 1,000 people of both sects. In one of the FIRs, Inspector Fateh Khan is the complainant and Zulfiqar Naqvi, brother of the slain Ejaz Naqvi, among the 500 accused. The complainant in the other FIR is ASI Mohammad Mehdi.

The situation in Phalia remains tense as the Rangers have taken over and a curfew has been clamped on sensitive areas. The funeral prayers for the slain Mian Khan were offered on Wednesday morning amid tight security.

The Shias of Phalia are refusing to accept the body of Mr Naqvi until they are allowed a procession route outside the Imambargah. Religious leaders of different sects, politicians and bureaucrats are holding negotiations with them at the Phalia TMA office.

The men engaged in the meeting include Allama Maqsood Ahmad, prayer-leader at Data Sahib, chief minister's adviser Tahir Asharfi, the auqaf secretary, the Gujranwala DIG, Mandi DCO and the DPO.