ISLAMABAD: Two religious groups clashed with each other at Sector G-10/1 on Friday evening.

Police said a Muharram Majlis was held in a house at G-10/3. After the conclusion of the Majlis, about 150 decided to take out a procession. However, the in-charge of the police force deployed at the house for the security of the Majlis asked the participants not to take out the procession without permission.

“The police informed the organisers that they had taken permission only for the Majlis and cannot take out a procession,” the police said.

However, the participants ignored the police warning and took out the procession.

When the procession reached Soan Raod between G-10/1 and G-10/2, scores of activists of Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) came out from a mosque and intercepted the participants.

The police said both the groups started chanting slogans against each other. Police efforts to defuse the situation failed and the two groups then pelted each other with stones. In the meantime, police reinforcement also reached the spot along with officials of the capital administration.

Warning was issued to the two groups to disperse peacefully but they ignored it. In response, the police restored to baton charge to disperse them which further provoked them. They pelted the police with stones and attacked them with batons.

For some moments, the police and the two groups fought each other on the road. Later, the police used teargas to disperse the people. As a result, the participants of the procession took shelter in an imambargah at G-10/1 while the other group fled towards G-10 Markaz.

A senior police officer, when contacted, said the situation was still tense and the people were present in their worship places. Further enforcement was sent to both the spots and patrolling in the area enhanced to maintain peace in the area.

Published in Dawn, November 15th , 2014