Pakistan killing: Shia cleric shot dead in Lahore

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A prominent Shia cleric has been shot dead in the Pakistani city of Lahore, sparking an outcry from members of the city's Shia community.

Gunmen on a motorbike killed Allama Nasir Abbas late on Sunday night as he was going home in his car after a religious gathering, police say.

No group has said it carried out the attack on the cleric.

Member's of Lahore's Shia community have been staging a sit-in at the governor's home to express their rage.

Pakistan has witnessed a rising tide of sectarian violence in recent years with a number of attacks targeting Shias in south-western Balochistan province as well as the southern city of Karachi.

Correspondents say Lahore has seen fewer sectarian attacks but there have several in recent months.

This killing comes 10 days after Shamsur Rahman, the leader of a Sunni organisation ASWJ, known for its harsh views against Shia Muslims, was gunned down in Lahore.