Peshawar, Aug 01: Authorities in the curfew-bound northern Pakistani town of Parachinar have rounded up 95 people since violence erupted following the death of a man in a police shooting four days ago, officials said today. "We have arrested 95 people for Monday`s riots," a local administration official told a news agency by telephone.

He said curfew was relaxed for two hours this morning to enable people to buy food. But residents of the conservative area were not allowed to leave their homes for Friday noon congregations at mosques, the official said on condition of anonymity. A mob of some 2,500 tribesmen in Parachinar, 260 kms southwest of Peshawar Monday ransacked offices and torched government vehicles after the tribal police shot dead a man who had refused to stop his car at a check post, officials said.

The mob also looted shops and damaged public property, forcing the authorities to rush paramilitary troops to the remote town on the Afghan border.

"Curfew has caused acute shortage of food and other commodities in the area," resident Karim Khan told a news agency by telephone. "The authorities are not allowing even the sick people to visit doctors for treatment."

Local officials said the town, awash with weapons and plagued by rivalry between the Sunni and Shiite Muslim sects would remain under curfew until the "wanted" tribesmen who are hiding in the area were arrested.

Bureau Report