Curfew imposed in Bhakkar following sectarian clash

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

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.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Police in Punjab's Hafizabad arrest man for alleged rape, kidnapping of teenage girl

Worst times for organised labour unions in Pakistan: Mutahidda Labour Federation

Three youngsters die as bike run over by oil tanker in Gujrat

p r sharma

Aug 24, 2013 01:59pm

violence gives birth to violence. Tolerance limit of Shia sect has long been crossed.

Recommend 0

Ala

Aug 24, 2013 08:35pm

Pakistan has to pay for his mis deeds

Recommend 0

Ali Ahmed

Aug 24, 2013 09:10pm

Both parties should be banned forever and thrashed in public. There is no more room for religious extremism in Pakistan anymore.

Recommend 0

M.Hussain Baltistani

Aug 26, 2013 10:21am

@Ali Ahmed: Dear Brother! I Think that the culprits should be crackdown and prosecuted according to the Laws justly without any discrimination. This is not a Justice to tackle them as a whole unjustly.

Recommend 0

M.Hussain Baltistani

Aug 26, 2013 10:29am

The Banned Sectarian Organizations should be deprived from Training, Funding, Illegal Supports from the Federal & Provincial Legislative institutions, establishment, Law enforcement agencies, Judiciary, If the state wants to protect its citizens.

Recommend 0

Shuja Haider

Aug 26, 2013 01:54pm

This is just what we needed to break the already crumbling bridge of between Shias Sunni relationship. WHY do we have to give such incidents a religious color?? This is a planned propaganda to turn shias and sunnis against eachother.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expands climate action with one Million Tree Drive and forest reforms

The province is turning policy into action through a series of large scale programmes aimed at rebuilding ecosystems and improving resilience against rising climate pressures.

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.