April 13, 2010 7:44 PM

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Security tightened in parts of northern Pak over move to rename NWFP

Security has been tightened in parts of northern Pakistan after violent protests over moves to rename North West Frontier Province (NWFP). At least five people have been killed since trouble broke out in the Hazara region yesterday. Hazaras in NWFP are part of a different ethnic group from majority Pashtuns and oppose calling it Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. The National Assembly approved the new name as part of a package of constitutional amendments last week. Head of the local administration in Abbottabad, Iqbal Khan, said additional security personnel have been called in to protect government offices across the region. Reports say violence started yesterday after protesters clashed with policemen in Abbottabad. Five demonstrators were killed. Violence has spread since then to other parts of the Hazara region. Sporadic incidents of violence have been reported during a strike being observed today. Renaming NWFP has been a long-standing demand of ethnic Pashtuns.<br/>

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