Rival religious groups clash in Bhakkar: Firing claims 11 lives

Rangers still waiting for orders in DPO's office.

BHAKKAR: Death toll from a clash between two rival groups in Kotla Jam area of  district Bhakkar in Punjab rose to 11 as police and security forces failed to fix the situation, Express News reported.

Currently, six people are reported as injured and undergoing treatment at a hospital. Nine of the people killed reportedly belong to one group while two belong to the other.

Express News correspondent Ehtishamul Haq informed that although police have taken charge of the area, Rangers personnel are still inside the District Police Office, awaiting orders to act.

Members from both groups involved have staged a protest and blocked the Dera Ismail Khan Road, blaming each other for having instigated the attack first.

The groups had been engaged in a brawl for a while now and things had heated up a few days ago following the death of a member of one of the groups.

On Friday, rival members confronted each other before an intermittent exchange of fire ensued. The firing killed three people on the spot, while two more died as they were being shifted to the hospital. Another died while under treatment at the hospital.

As firing continued well into the evening, bullets claimed the lives of five more.

Earlier, as security forces arrive on the scene, the District Coordination Officer of the area summoned Rangers to help with the situation. DCO Mumtaz Hussain reported the situation as 'under control' but has failed to stem the loss of lives.

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, a Shia political party, called an emergency press conference and announced a three-day period of mourning at the tragedy.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the situation, saying those who break the law will be dealt with severely.