Islamabad: Defying a Government ban, thousands of supporters of a banned Sunni militant group today (Oct 8, 2004) staged a rally in Multan to protest yesterday's (Oct 7, 2004) bomb attack on their meeting even as Friday prayers were held across Pakistan under heavy security amidst fears of fresh sectarian violence.

Punjab Government has announced a reward of Rs one crore to anyone providing clues leading to the capture of those behind the attack on the meeting of outlawed Sipah-e-Sahiba, in which 41 people were killed.

About 3,000 activists and supporters of the Sunni outfit poured out into the streets blocking traffic and shouting anti-Shiite slogans in Multan in Punjab province despite the Government imposing a nation-wide ban on public and religious gatherings other than Friday prayers.

Pakistan's Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao admitted that the meeting of the SSP should not have been permitted. After the ban SSP resurfaced with the a new name Millat-e-Islamiya.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place for Friday prayers across the country today, including the tense Punjab province, which witnessed two suicide bombings in a week.

A suicide bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Sialkot last Friday resulted in the death of over 40 people.

Reports from major cities Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar said heavy security was in place at mosques, especially those belonging to Shias.