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QUETTA: A shootout inside a mosque in southwestern Pakistan’s Khuzdar district wounded 18 people Wednesday in a dispute over who should lead the Eidul Azha prayers, police said.
Followers of the two rival religious leaders pulled out weapons and started shooting Wednesday morning after arguing over which one should start the prayers at a small mosque in Balochistan province’s Khuzdar district, police official Javed Ahmed said.
The district is about 550 miles southwest of Islamabad.
Millions of other Pakistanis peacefully celebrated Eidul Azha on Wednesday, joining Muslims the world over for the three-day festival that involves slaughter of sheep and cattle in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s near-sacrifice of his son.
Pakistan kicked off the holiday a day later than many other countries because of local authorities' interpretation of when the new moon was sighted.
Celebrations were muted in some areas of Pakistan because of devastating floods that affected 20 million people, of whom seven million remain homeless.
Most mosques also added additional security Wednesday to guard against attacks by militants.
