Death sentence for Multan bombing

The Multan attack targeted radical Sunnis

A court in Pakistan's Punjab province has sentenced a man to death for organising a bomb attack on a gathering of Sunni Muslims in October 2004.

Irfan Ali Shah was convicted of masterminding the twin bombings in the city of Multan in which 40 people were killed and nearly 100 wounded.

The court found Shah guilty on 40 counts. Another man is still wanted in connection with the attack.

Shah pleaded not guilty and his lawyer said he would appeal.

The bombings targeted the radical Sunni Millat-e-Islami group and were believed to be part of a bloody sectarian conflict with minority Shias.

About 3,000 people were present to mark the first anniversary of the murder of a Sunni leader, Maulana Azam Tariq, who was shot dead near Islamabad.

Pakistan has a history of sectarian violence, mostly blamed on rival Sunni and Shia extremist groups.

About 97% of Pakistan's population are Muslim, the majority Sunnis.