DERA ISMAIL KHAN, April 27: Curfew was relaxed here on Friday from 1pm to 4pm and people shopped for items of daily use and offered Friday prayers.

However, people mostly remained indoors and the streets wore a deserted look as rumours continued to make rounds, creating fear.

District Nazim Haji Abdur Rauf told Dawn that the police had imposed the curfew without taking the district government into confidence. He said the administration had other options to control the situation.

Police said the curfew had been imposed on Thursday night to pre-empt any backlash from people against increasing incidents of sectarian killings in the city.

Five people had been killed in such attacks in three days.