15 killed as gunmen go on rampage against Shias in Pak

After the attack, women dressed in black beat their chests and wanderedthrough the village wailing and visiting the homes of the victims. No one had taken responsibility for the massacre, which took place in thehometown of Allama Sajid Naqvi, the leader of Tehrik-e-Jafria Pakistan, agroup that advocates the rights of the Shia Muslim minority in Pakistan.

Most of Pakistan’s 140 million people are Sunni Muslims. In recent years,however, militant Muslim groups belonging to both sects have emerged andclashes are becoming more frequent.

The government has stepped up security to prevent attacks on Shias duringthe Islamic month of Muharram, when devout Shias mourn the death of HazratImam Hussain, the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.

Conflicting reports said there were three or four gunmen. "We were listening to the prayers and then all of a sudden there was a loud blast and everyone started running," said 16-year-old Azhar Shah, who received minor injuries. "I felt something hot on my ribs and I looked down and I was bleeding," he said.

The state-run news agency, APP, said one of the assailants was overpowered by the people gathered there. There was no confirmation from the police. "I looked around and people were lying on the floor. Then some people came in and helped," said Shah.

Tehrik-e-Jafria has called for quick arrests. "The people will feel insecureattending religious gatherings until the killers are arrested," said SyedMazhar Gailani, a leader of the group, speaking to journalists. "Lack of punishment encourages terrorists."

He added that it was disturbing that such a violent attack could occur when the army ruled in Pakistan. "The army is Pakistan’s top security force," he said. "An attack on the religious gathering when the military is in power is a very worrying sign."

Soldiers headed toward Mulawali on Wednesday where it was believed they would try to keep the peace during funerals that were to be held later in the day. Soldiers on jeeps mounted with machine guns drove into the village to patrol.

Tehrik-e-Jafria Pakistan blamed Sunni Muslims belonging to Sipah-e-SahabahPakistan or the Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet. That group has been implicated in scores of killings of Shias in recent years. The SSP has, however, denied its involvement and blamed India. "India is fomenting sectarian violence," said Zia-ul Kazmi, an SSP spokesman, who offered talks with Shia groups. "We share the grief of our Shia brothers," he said.