Pakistan on high alert, bans religious gatherings

Pakistani Shia Muslim protestors burn a US flag in Karachi yesterday at a rally protesting against the killing of 30 Shia in a suicide bombing in the eastern city of Sialkot on October 1. The protestors were also condemning the killing of 41 Sunni Muslims on Thursday in a car bombing in central Pakistani city of Multan. PHOTO: AFP

"The government has directed the entire security apparatus to remain on a high state of alert, because of the threat posed by elements trying to destabilise the country through acts of terrorism," Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao announced after an emergency cabinet meeting late Thursday.

Troops are on standby in Multan, the central Pakistani city famous for its shrines to revered Muslim saints, where the extremist Sipah-e-Sahaba group had been mourning the first anniversary of leader Azam Tariq's assassination when a high-intensity car-bomb shattered the pre-dawn darkness.

The bomb exploded at 4:30am as some 2,000 mourners were dispersing after an all-night prayer vigil.

Most funerals were held Thursday afternoon, but Sunni leaders declared Friday a day of mourning and called for protests after midday prayers.

But the cabinet also declared a ban on religious gatherings, exempting only congregations in mosques.

"The federal government has decided to advise the provincial governments to impose bans on processions, religious gatherings and congregations until further orders, except for gatherings for prayers inside mosques," Sherpao told reporters after the meeting.