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80 killed in Shia-Sunni clashes

ISLAMABAD: At least 80 people have been killed in three days of clashes between armed groups of Shia and Sunni sects in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan.

Military spokesman Waheed Arshad told Pakistan Television that “75 to 80 persons have been killed in the sectarian clashes” that began on Thursday in Parachinar of Kurram tribal agency.

Maj. Gen. Arshad said 11 security personnel were killed and 32 others were injured when they were caught in a cross-fire between the two groups.

Other reports put the death toll at 90.

The government clamped a curfew on Friday, but the fighting continued, continuing on Saturday and spilling overnight to Sunday.

Maj. Gen. Arshad said Army troops and Frontier Corps personnel were deployed to stop the clashes and improve the situation.This is the second time this year that Parachinar has been affected by sectarian clashes.

In April this year, more than 80 people were killed in Shia-Sunni clashes after gunmen attacked a religious procession.

The violence this time began when gunmen opened fire on a group of people, killing and wounding several of them on Friday.

Parachinar had been tense from Thursday, when two persons were injured in gunfire at a mosque.

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