GILGIT, Oct 21: A curfew in force in the city for several days was lifted on Friday from 8am till 11am. Sources said the authorities did not allow a longer break as some religious activists were contemplating to offer Friday prayers on the road outside their sealed mosques in Gilgit.

They said that police had detained 36 people under the maintenance of public order (16 MPO), five of them during raids in various localities.

Troops, meanwhile, extended patrolling and security measures to the Danyore neighbourhood to avert any untoward incident, as a large number of people had gathered there to offer Friday prayers.

The Friday prayers could not be held in the central mosques of different sects as the administration had sealed them on Oct 15, saying their premises might be used to fan sectarianism.

Meanwhile, Shia protesters in Nagar valley have postponed their ultimatum saying they were awaiting some of their leaders.