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Violence erupts in Pakistan after Shiite, Sunni clash
Karachi, Mar 15: Dozens of Sunni Muslim Activists allegedly attacked houses of minority Shiite Muslims in a Karachi neighborhood today, pulling their possessions into the street and setting the belongings on fire, police said.
Karachi, Mar 15: Dozens of Sunni Muslim Activists allegedly attacked houses of minority Shiite Muslims in a
Karachi neighborhood today, pulling their possessions into the street and setting the belongings on fire, police said.
Firefighters put out the fires, and the situation was under control by afternoon, officers said.
"We have been informed that dozens of members belonging to a Sunni organizations attacked two houses of Shiites in Orangi town," police official Chaudhry Anwar told the Associated Press. "They burned their belongings after taking them out from two houses and later escaped."
Anwar said that the incident occurred shortly after some local Shiite and Sunni youths exchanged angry words, and then started fighting, seriously injuring one Sunni Muslim youth.
"We have stepped up security in Orangi to avoid any further clashes," Anwar said.
Tension has been high in the Orangi area of Karachi, since Thursday when Shiite and Sunni activists clashed there, causing injuries to seven people including three police officers.
Shiite Muslims yesterday observed the 10th day of Muharram, when they mourn the death in 680 ad of Imam Hussein, an event that led to the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunni Muslims.
Bureau Report
"We have been informed that dozens of members belonging to a Sunni organizations attacked two houses of Shiites in Orangi town," police official Chaudhry Anwar told the Associated Press. "They burned their belongings after taking them out from two houses and later escaped."
Anwar said that the incident occurred shortly after some local Shiite and Sunni youths exchanged angry words, and then started fighting, seriously injuring one Sunni Muslim youth.
"We have stepped up security in Orangi to avoid any further clashes," Anwar said.
Tension has been high in the Orangi area of Karachi, since Thursday when Shiite and Sunni activists clashed there, causing injuries to seven people including three police officers.
Shiite Muslims yesterday observed the 10th day of Muharram, when they mourn the death in 680 ad of Imam Hussein, an event that led to the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunni Muslims.
Bureau Report