Authorities imposed a curfew in Kurram Agency on Friday following sectarian violence in which three people were killed, and the army was called out to control the situation, said officials. FATA security chief Arbab Arif confirmed that a curfew had been imposed, and said the political administration had told him about a single casualty so far. However, hospital sources said that three people were killed and 13 injured when Shias were attacked in an imambargah in the morning. AFP quoted an administration official as saying that trouble erupted when Shias staged a demonstration outside their mosque against local Sunnis who allegedly chanted anti-Shia slogans during a religious rally last week. Reuters reported that 20 people had been injured in gunbattles between Shias and Sunnis. “There is curfew in Parachinar city,” said a security official. A resident of the area where the imambargah is located said, “The situation is still tense ... sporadic firing can still be heard.”
Agencies add: Meanwhile in Wana, pro-government tribesmen stormed key bunkers occupied by foreign Al Qaeda militants on Friday, killing around 20 people, said security officials. In the major assault, the tribesmen overran several bunkers held by Central Asian rebels. “Some 20 bodies were found lying there before dawn, and more casualties were feared as the fighting continued throughout the night,” said a security official. Sporadic gunfire continued on Friday morning. Residents said the dead in the clashes overnight included seven tribesmen. Meanwhile, ISPR Director General Major General Wahid Arshad said that army troops had been deployed to Shin Warsak to tighten security, but they were not taking part in the fighting.