Rivalry: 22 injured as violence continues

CHAKWAL: Two religious rival groups exchanged fire for the second consecutive day, resulting in bullet wounds to 22 persons. Eighteen were immediately shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Chakwal while four were shifted to Rawalpindi Hospital due to their critical condition.

A complete strike was observed on Sunday as all businesses and markets were closed in protest against the attitude of the administration.

The city was handed over to the Rangers who started patrolling in the city.

The injured are Malik Naveed, Waqas, Asadullah, Mohammad Rafique, Habib Khan, Malik Musarrat, Rizwan Ramzan, Kashmir Khan, Faizan, Mohammad Sohail, Zafarullah, Ashraf Raza, Rizwan, Munir Sadiq, Shehzad, Usman Liaqat, Umar Abid and Ikhlaq Afzal.

Regional Police Officer Hamid Mukhtar Gondal visited Choa Saidan Shah and suspended Station House Officer (SHO) Baddar Munir. Inspector Mohammad Afzal was appointed as the new SHO. Police arrested more than 60 people and registered a case against more than 200 activists. The rival groups also burnt vehicles and shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2011.