ISLAMABAD, May 11: Shiite Muslim prisoners went on the rampage in a Pakistani jail, leaving more than 100 people injured, after their religious procession was broken up, reports said today.

Police fought rock-throwing rioters at the Adiala central jail in Rawalpindi for three hours with tear gas and batons. Protestors started fires by breaking gas pipes.

Jail superintendent Abdul Sattar Ajiz said 35 prisoners and 30 police were injured in the clashes. An official statement issued by the district administration said trouble started after prisoners started a procession and started raising slogans to make demands. They hurled rocks and pulled down the outer walls of some barracks, forcing police to use tear gas and batons, the statement said.

``Some prisoners and police officials received injuries,'' but the situation was brought under control, it added.

Jang said the Shia prisoners were not allowed to hold a religious march for the Islamic holy month of Muharram after Sunni Muslim prisoners objected. A large number of militants from majority Sunni and minority Shia communities have been detained in Punjab province, which has been gripped by sectarian unrest in recent months that has claimed dozens of lives.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.