LAHORE: A curfew was imposed in Punjab’s Bhakkar district for an indefinite period following Friday’s clash between members of two religious sects there left five people dead and eight others injured.

The curfew came into effect at 10 am on Saturday and additional police forces and Rangers were deployed in sensitive areas of the district to address any untoward situation.

The clash between workers of the Ahle Sunnat Waljamaat (ASWJ) and members of the Shia community happened after a protest rally by the ASWJ against the police’s failure to apprehend those behind the killing of a shopkeeper.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also took notice of the clash on Friday and condemning the incident, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen declared three days of mourning.

Pakistan has experienced worsening sectarian violence in recent years. The clash in Bhakkar came on the same day as two people were killed on the outskirts of Islamabad when gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside a Sunni seminary.