GUJRANWALA, Nov 9: An office-bearer of the Shia Ulema Council and two other members of the community were shot dead in two Imambargahs in Baghbanpura on Saturday morning. The council`s finance secretary, Javed Talat, was shot dead with an automatic weapon by two men riding a motorcycle who forced their way into the Zainabia Imambargah, on Naushera Road.

In the other incident, Muazzam Yousef and Amanat were gunned down by two men who barged into Qasr-iAbu Talib Imambargah in Shahrukh Colony. Both attacks took place during Fajr prayers.

Members of the Shia community placed the bodies on the road, smashed windowpanes of vehicles and blocked traffic on major streets of Gujranwala.

They raised slogans against the government and called for suspension of the police officials concerned.

Police claimed to have arrested nine suspects, including activists of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Commuters faced problems because of the closure of roads for 10 hours. The snarlup in traffic on the G.T. Road stretched for at least five kilometres.

The situation in the city remained tense throughout the day. Punjab Environment Minister Shuja Khanzada arrived in the city and ordered an inquiry into the attacks.