Chief Secretary Punjab Javed Aslam was presiding over a crucial meeting on the prevalent situation in Bhakkar after the deadly sectarian clashes. The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Home Secretary, Secretary Auqaf, Secretary Information and other higher officials.

While addressing the officials, Javed Aslam said that no one will be allowed to violate the law, and that strict action will be initiated against the perpetrators involved in the sectarian clashes.

It may be mentioned that a strict indefinite curfew was imposed from 10:00 am onwards in Bhakkar and other restive districts today in order to ward off any further violence.

According to police officials, the curfew will remain enforced until further orders in Bhakkar, Darya Khan, Kotla Jam, Panj Garaeen, and Kahawar Kalan as these districts are most vulnerable to violence.

The Executive District Officer (EDO) Education Qazi Zahoor Hussain said that all the institutes will remain closed in the areas under curfew.

District Police Officer, Sarfaraz Falki told Geo News that additional contingents of police and Rangers have been deployed in the restive districts.

Earlier on Friday, the violence broke out when a protest march organized by Sunni radical group Ahl-e-Sunnat Waljamaat reached a Shia neighbourhood in the Bhakar district of central Punjab province.

Sources said the rally was going to Darya Khan from Bhakkar when some people opened fire on the participants at Kotla Jam. To which some of the armed rally participants retaliated.

As result, six people – from both the sects– were killed on the spot while six others were critically injured of whom five later succumbed to their wounds taking the total death toll to 11.