KARACHI, Feb 28: About a dozen people were injured when two groups clashed over possession of a mosque in a shopping centre located at Tariq Road.

Police resorted to teargas shelling and baton charging to disperse the mob. Consequently, the entire shopping area of Tariq Road was closed down.

According to the police, the trouble started when some workers of a religious organization tried to occupy a mosque located in Dubai Shopping Mall. According to reports, the owner of the Mall had handed over the mosque to religious organization when the building was commissioned several years back. However, the workforce and some shopkeepers went to the court and obtained a stay. Subsequently, the administration of the Mall had sealed the mosque since the stay.

According to the religious party, the court had recently passed a judgment in their favour. Thus, they were trying to open the mosque when they were resisted. Enraged people also pelted stones at the Dubai Shopping Mall. As the trouble spread on the road, police sealed the road and diverted the coming vehicular traffic to other arteries.