By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least five people were killed in a bomb blast at a funeral of a slain Shia Muslim youth in north-western Pakistan, witnesses and local TV channels reported.
The funeral was for one of the two Shia Muslims, who were shot dead in Dera Ismail Khan City over the past 12 hours, they said.
The blast occurred at Kotli Imam neighborhood when the funeral procession was its way to graveyard, witnesses said.
TV channels reported that five people were killed and over 20 others were injured.
According to reports the blast may be a suicide attack.
Police sources said that unidentified gunmen shot dead a youth Iqbal Shah last night when he was returning home from work, creating sectarian tension in the city.
Gunmen men also shot dead a Shia cleric Nazeer Naqvi Friday morning in the city.
Naqvi was custodian of a local Shiite mosque, locals said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
But extremist rivals are blamed for such attacks.
Witnesses said that angry Shia community protested against the targeted killings in the city and the police stepped up security to check any backlash.
The injured were shifted to the District Hospital Dera Ismail Khan and a large number of people rushed the hospital to donate blood after authorities dealing with the injured were reported to be appealing for blood donations.
Witnesses said that firing also started in different parts of the city, killing one person.
Angry mobs burnt buses in a local bus station, TV channels reported.
Several shops were also burnt, they said.
Hundreds of people have died in recent months in battles between the security forces and pro-Taleban militants.
The border areas of North West Frontier Province are a hotbed of militancy and considered to be a breeding ground for the Taleban and al-Qaeda.