Islamabad: At least 23 people were killed and several injured when supporters of two religious leaders fought gun battles in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
The clashes between followers of Mufti Munir Shakir and Pir Saifur Rehman started on Monday and continued until early Tuesday morning in Khyber Agency, some 12 kms from Peshawar.
The gunfight erupted when supporters of Shakir attacked the house of a follower of Rehman, Zaman told local Geo TV.
Supporters of Rehman retaliated and killed five of the attackers, leading to more clashes between the two groups.
Shah Zaman, media advisor for the tribal region, said that paramilitary force 'Frontier Constabulary' has been deployed there to maintain law and order. But reports reaching here suggested that the situation was still very tense and the authorities had blocked all roads to the area.
Zaman added that the two religious groups had established radio stations, which were engaged in propaganda against each other.
He said Rehman had agreed to quit the area and close down his radio station after the government asked him to do so. But the Shakir group did not close its radio station and continued propaganda against the rival faction, he added.
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