DHAKA: Pakistan on Sunday ordered an inquiry into sectarian violence in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that killed nine people, injured 60 and sparked clashes around the country, officials said.

Fighting erupted on Friday in the garrison-city, which neighbours the capital Islamabad, when a procession by Shia Muslims to mark the most important day of the mourning month of Muharram coincided with a sermon at a nearby Sunni mosque.

The groups attacked each other, TV cameramen and security forces, firing gunshots, reports The Straits Times.

Rawalpindi has been under nearly complete curfew since the incident, which saw a large number of troops deployed there as well as in the southern city of Multan and Chishtian town to keep the peace.

BDST: 1620 HRS, NOV 17, 2013
RoR/BSK