Curfew remains in Rawalpindi after procession violence

Rawalpindi: A curfew has been imposed in Rawalpindi after clashes between two groups which killed at least eight people and left 24 injured, ARY news reported.

Mobile phone service has been suspended till Sunday in the city, whereas, army is on high alert in Punjab province.

Firing near the doorway of the Ashura procession on Friday increased tension in the vicinity. According to details, unknown miscreants opened gunfire near Fawara Chowk at which a wave of anger gripped the people and they set some shops in the cloth market on fire.

According to rescue services, more than 100 shops have been completely destroyed.
Police used tear gas to disperse people. After the violence the suspension of mobile phone service has been extended till Sunday. The federation of Madaris has condemned the firing in Rawalpindi, and demanded immediate inquiry of the incident.

Local administration has contacted the senior religious scholars in this regard as well.
The chief of JUI Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman has demanded to control the situation as soon as possible.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and called for an immediate report on the incident from commissioner and RPO Rawalpindi.