One person was killed and six received injuries on Thursday when Shia protestors demanding changes in the religious textbooks clashed with security forces in Gilgit, hospital officials said.
The authorities clamped a curfew on the city on Thursday amid brewing anger among Shia over school curricula, which they say favours the rival Sunni community, but failed to stop clashes between police and mobs.
"Yes, one Wajid Ali has died of his injuries," deputy medical superintendent of the city's District Headquarters Hospital, Dr Israr Ahmed, told AFP.
He said six other people were admitted to the hospital, including two paramilitary soldiers and two policemen. The condition of a wounded civilian was serious, he said.
Shias are angry that some school textbooks only teach methods of prayer followed by Sunni. Tension has been simmering in the town since last year and two days ago the Shia community announced a mass protest on Thursday, leading to the curfew.
The demonstrators staged protests in defiance of the curfew and later attacked a police training centre and the state-run radio station, both on Gilgit's outskirts, prompting the police to open fire.
Some also tried to set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the radio station, residents said.
At least three people were injured in an exchange of fire in the city's Khomer neighbourhood, they said.
"In view of the prevailing law and order situation the local administration called out the army and a curfew has been imposed within the municipal limits of Gilgit city," a statement from the local administration announced.
Dozens of people were arrested for violating the curfew, including eight Shia leaders, the administration said.
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