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23 die in Pakistan sectarian violence

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Blasts trigger violent protests

ISLAMABAD: At least 23 persons were killed and scores others injured on Thursday following a suspected suicide bombing on a Muharram gathering in Hangu town in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan.

The private television channel, Geo, quoting eye-witness accounts said two suicide bombers might have been involved in the dastardly attack targeting the gathering.

Recurring feature

Sectarian violence has been recurring feature in the country following the Islamisation programme launched during the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq in the 80's. Anticipating trouble, authorities all over the nation had stepped up vigil and imposed curbs on a number of organisations.

A leader of the Shia procession, Maulana Khurshid Anwar, has been quoted by the local electronic media that bombs exploded near a stage where he was about to address mourners.

The incident triggered violent protests in the town. Enraged crowds reportedly set shops and a bank on fire and fired shots into the air. Reports from Hangu said unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus outside the town later in the day, killing four passengers.

Fearing escalation of tensions, the Frontier Government has sought deployment of army to bring the situation under control.

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani announced probe into the incident by a High Court judge along with compensation of Pak Rs. 1 lakh for each of the dead and 50,000 each for the injured.

The incident was termed by the Government and scholars of Shia and Sunni sects as a conspiracy and they appealed people to remain peaceful.

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