KHAIRPUR, Nov 1: District Nazim Pir Niaz Hussain Shah on Thursday imposed a 15-day ban on display of arms in public, misuse of loudspeakers and provocative speeches, wall-chalking, posters, banners and leaflets under section 144 in the district following a late night clash between groups of rival sects.

The official notification said that certain elements intended to disrupt law and order in the district but nobody would be allowed to take law in his own hands. The nazim appealed to the rival groups to pacify their youngsters and stop them from any activities that might provoke the other group.

Tension prevailed in the city after the clash. The district administration has deployed a heavy contingent of police supplemented by personnel of Rangers at Panj Gulla Chowk and Luqman Railway Phatak.

A large number of people belonging to one group staged a procession, which started from the Railway Phatak on Wednesday evening, in protest against objectionable speeches made by the rival religious group.

The procession met their rivals who were also coming to the Phatak and the scuffle broke out. Activists of one group later staged a demonstration on the railway track forcing Karakoram Express and Shalimar Express to be delayed for more than two hours.

The rival groups have register ed cases against each other.