(AKI) - A bomb blast at a funeral procession in Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province on Friday killed at least 25 people and injured 60 others. Ah, Pakistain! Where there's a holy man on every street corner and nothing's sacred.
The attack took place in the city of Dera Ismail Khan, located 270 kilometres southwest of of the capital Islamabad, during a funeral procession of Shar Zaman, a Shia Muslim leader who was assassinated by unknown gunmen on Thursday.
It was not clear whether the attack - aimed at a crowd of 1,000 people - was carried out by a suicide bomber. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, there have been persistent clashes in recent years between the Sunni majority and the Shia minority.
Following the attack, angry mobs began rioting, shops were ransacked and buses were set on fire.
The Pakistani military then imposed a two to three day curfew and security forces have orders to shoot at sight, said Pakistan's Geo News.
Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani strongly condemned the attack and said jointly that the government would not give into extremists, militants or terrorists and would take all necessary measures to establish law and order.