Gilgit, Pakistan - The city saw yet another tense day as rival sects exchanged heavy gunfire on Sunday evening, leaving two persons critically injured.
The clashes erupted after Shia protesters ended a strike launched against a ban on a sect-based transport service by government. On the call given by Anjuman Imamia the protesters blocked roads at various locations in the city disrupting traffic.
They demanded that the permission be restored for the transport service that started privately on specific routes. During the strike, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd which reportedly led to aerial firing.
However, according to some sources, the situation only turned ugly after some unidentified men attacked a picket of the Punjab Rangers. They say this led to an exchange of fire that left two injured.
The firing continued for an hour leaving the city deserted and markets closed.