Second day of curfew in Rawalpindi following the clashes. PHOTO: AFP
A judicial commission chaired by Justice Mamon Rashid has been formed to carry out further investigations into the sectarian clashes.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has told citizens to stay inside their homes. Mobile services have been suspended in the city indefinitely. Food and water have also become scarce because of the situation in the city.
Policemen and soldiers from regular and paramilitary units, who were called in to restore order, are patrolling the troubled areas, arresting people who violate the curfew.
Up to nine people died and dozens were injured in the clashes which continued late into the night of November 15.
Many politicians expressed concern and anger over the situation in Rawalpindi on Twitter:
Hope everyone is safe in Rawalpindi.This is a time to call for unity and restraint.The votaries of hate and division must not succeed.
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 16, 2013
#Rawalpindi incident was an attempt to destroy peace in the city
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) November 16, 2013
Mobile network to stay suspended in Pindi indefinitely.. That's Chaudhry Nisar for u! Now miss @SenRehmanMalik
— Dr. Sharmila sahibah faruqui (Phd) s.i (@sharmilafaruqi) November 16, 2013
Other cities
Mobile services have also been suspended in Islamabad till 2pm today.
In various cities in Punjab including Multan, Faisalabad, Chiniot and Jhang Section 144 has been imposed. Five people or more cannot gather at one place at the same time.
These security measures were taken after more than 110 people, including police personnel, had sustained injuries on November 15 and 16 amid unrest in Bahawalnagar and Multan.
A hospital, two shops and some other buildings were burnt down by angry protesters in different areas of Bahawalnagar. As many as 70 people, including two policemen, were injured in the riots. The Chishtian sub-district was subsequently handed over to the army and while Rangers were called to take over Bahwalnagar’s Haroonabad area.
Another 40 people were injured in Multan on November 16 when clashes erupted in the city. As the riots spread to over half the area of Multan, army and Rangers were called in to defuse the situation.
The Rawalpindi clashes
On November 15, sectarian clashes had erupted at a Muharram 10 procession near Fawara Chowk, that left at least nine people dead and over 80 injured.
The tragedy had occurred as mob turned against the police in the procession passing through Raja Bazaar in Pindi.
As mourners massed, a group of miscreants at 3:00pm had reportedly snatched guns from police personnel installed in the area for security, and opened fire.
As panic spread, unknown people had set a portion of the cloth market in Raja Bazaar on fire.
The situation had soon gotten out of hand and the army was called in to control the situation.
The Express News team, along with other media personnel were also assaulted by unknown men.
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