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Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JIT to probe Akora Khattak suicide blast
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the suicide attack at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Nowshera district. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated on Wednesday that all possible measures would be taken to identify those responsible for the deadly attack and bring them to justice. A formal announcement regarding the JIT will be made in the coming days, he added. During his visit to Darul Uloom Haqqania, Gandapur offered condolences to the family of Maulana Hamidul Haq, who was martyred in the blast. Prayers were also held for the elevation of ranks of the slain Maulana and other martyrs. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Advisor for Information and Public Relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif. Gandapur also visited the mosque affected by the blast and strongly condemned the attack. He described Haq's martyrdom as an irreparable loss, emphasizing that his religious and political contributions would be remembered for a long time. He further stated that Darul Uloom Haqqania has played a significant role in religious education. The JIT is being formed to thoroughly investigate the incident, and every possible effort will be made to identify and punish those responsible. The official announcement regarding the JIT will be made soon. He assured that every effort would be taken to uncover the root cause of this tragic incident and ensure that those responsible do not escape justice. The chief minister stressed that bringing the perpetrators to justice is crucial in preventing such incidents in the future. He vowed that the death of Maulana Haq would not go in vain. "This incident will serve as a moment of national unity against terrorism," he stated. He also announced that the families of the martyrs and the injured would receive full financial assistance. While speaking to the media, Gandapur emphasized the need for serious measures to improve the law and order situation in K-P, including the merged districts. "If timely steps are not taken to curb terrorism, it could engulf the entire country," he warned. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by both security forces and the people of K-P in the war against terrorism, urging national unity to eliminate the menace. "Dialogue and negotiations are the only effective means for a lasting solution to this issue," he maintained, adding that the provincial government has formed a Jirga to hold talks with neighboring Afghanistan in this regard. However, further progress awaits approval of the Terms of Reference (TORs) from the federal government, he noted. The chief minister said that negotiations with Afghanistan are the only viable way to end Kabul's support for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is involved in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Gulf Today
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Top religious leader among 6 dead at Pakistan seminary suicide blast
A suicide bomber killed six worshippers during Friday prayers at an Islamic seminary in northwestern Pakistan known as a historic training ground for the Afghan Taliban, police and a government spokesman said. The head of the religious school was among those killed, said provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif. "Initial reports suggest the blast occurred after Friday prayers as people were gathering to greet Hamid-ul Haq. It appears to be a suicide attack," Abdul Rasheed, the district police chief, told AFP, adding that four people were killed and 13 wounded in the blast. Rasheed said that Haqqani, the head of a local rightwing Islamist party, appeared to be the target of the bomber. He was the son of Maulana Sami-ul Haq Haqqani, who was assassinated in 2018 and known as the "father of the Taliban" for teaching the insurgent group's founder Mullah Omar at the same religious school. The explosion happened as people gathered for weekly Friday prayers, the most important of the week. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The attacker, wearing an explosive-laden suicide vest, walked up to Haq as he was leaving a mosque on the premises of the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, his brother Maulana Abdul Haq told Reuters. "Maulana Hamid-ul Haq ... died on the spot and around two dozen people were injured in the blast," he said. Regional police officer Najeebur Rahman said earlier that several people were wounded. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, and expressed sorrow over Haq's death, in a statement issued by his office. The sprawling campus in Pakistan's Akora Khattak is home to roughly 4,000 students who are fed, clothed and educated for free. Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman for the interor ministry in Kabul, said the government "strongly condemn the attack" and blamed it on Daesh group.
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Maulana Rashid ul-Haq becomes deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania, succeeding his martyr brother
Listen to article Maulana Rashid ul-Haq has been appointed as the new deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania, following the martyrdom of his brother, Maulana Hamid ul-Haq. The decision was made during a gathering held at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, which included thousands of scholars, political figures, and members of the public who attended the funeral of Maulana Hameed ul-Haq, Ex press News reported. Maulana Rashid ul-Haq's appointment was announced by Maulana Irfan ul-Haq Haqqani, who spoke on behalf of the Haqqania family and the scholars of Darul Uloom Haqqania. The decision was made by unanimous consensus, with the gathering showing overwhelming support for the new deputy head. During the funeral, Maulana Irfan ul-Haq raised his hands in prayer and confirmed Maulana Rashid ul-Haq's position as the deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania. At the same time, he expressed support for Maulana Abdul Haq Sani, declaring him the political successor of his martyr father, Maulana Hameed ul-Haq. In his speech at the funeral, Maulana Rashid ul-Haq expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and solidarity from the community, emphasising the legacy of his father and brother in the fight for the country's welfare. He pledged to continue their mission and said, "This country is ours, and our ancestors sacrificed their lives for its preservation." Maulana Abdul Haq Sani, speaking at the funeral, assured the gathering that the Haqqania family would never leave the path of truth. He added, "We will not be deterred by bombs, attacks, or threats. As long as there is a member of the Haqqania family, we will continue the mission of Maulana Sami ul-Haq and never compromise on the teachings of Islam." Following the funeral, the martyrdom of Maulana Hameed ul-Haq was honoured, and he was buried beside his father, Maulana Sami ul-Haq, in a final tribute to their shared commitment to Islam and the nation. A large number of people, including Afghan Consul General, attended the funeral of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani - chief of the (JUI-S) - who was martyred in a suicide blast at the Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak area of Nowshera district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The bombing, which occurred after Friday prayers, killed Maulana Hamidul-Haq Haqqani and others. Following the tragic incident, a large crowd gathered at the madrassa, where Maulana Hamid al-Haq's funeral prayers were led by his son, Maulana Sahibzada Abdul Haq Sani.
Al Jazeera
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Blast at Taliban-linked Pakistani seminary kills six people, injures 20
Islamabad, Pakistan – A suicide bombing at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least six people, including a prominent religious scholar, and injured at least 20, according to authorities. The mosque is located inside the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Akora Khattak, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Police said the attack occurred just after Friday prayers had concluded and appeared to target Hamid-ul-Haq, the leader of the religious political party Jamiat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUIS), who was killed. Speaking to the media, the provincial police chief, Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed the attacker was a suicide bomber. He added that at least three policemen were injured in the attack. Government officials issued statements condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the families of those killed. 'Such cowardly and heinous acts of terrorism cannot dampen our resolve against terrorism,' Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. No group had claimed responsibility, but analysts suspected that the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in Khorasan Province (ISKP) could be behind the bombing. 'Given the symbolism of this seminary and its history, it is highly likely that the attack was carried out by ISKP. The group has ideological differences with the Afghan Taliban and their supporters, who follow the Deoband school of thought,' said Ihsanullah Tipu, an Islamabad-based security analyst. Darul Uloom Haqqania, a Deoband seminary, was founded in 1947 and was once led by Sami-ul-Haq, Hamid-ul-Haq's father, who was often referred to as the 'Father of the Taliban'. Sami-ul-Haq was killed in a knife attack in Rawalpindi in 2018. Hamid-ul-Haq, in his late 50s, was a former member of the National Assembly and became the president of JUIS after the death of his father. He had previously served as the seminary's vice chancellor and last year led a delegation of religious scholars for 'religious diplomacy' to Afghanistan, where he met senior Afghan Taliban leader Abdul Kabir. He had also called for Pakistan to recognise the Afghan Taliban government after the group retook control of the country in August 2021. More than 4,000 students are enrolled at the seminary, which also has many prominent Afghan Taliban leaders as alumni, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's interim interior minister, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the interim foreign minister. The Afghan Taliban adheres to Sunni Islam and follows the Deoband school of thought. It faces opposition from ISKP, which belongs to the Salafist school of thought. The latter is often described as ultraconservative, adhering strictly to Islamic law. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed multiple attacks on mosques in recent years. In a January 2023 attack in Peshawar, a suicide bomber targeted a mosque inside a police complex, killing more than 100 people, most of whom were police officers. While no group officially claimed responsibility for the Peshawar mosque attack, ISKP has carried out several attacks in Pakistan, indiscriminately targeting civilians and security forces. In one of its larger attacks, a political rally organised by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUIF), a rival faction of JUIS but also an adherent of the Deobandi school of thought, was attacked in July 2023 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bajaur district. The bombing killed nearly 60 people. The last few years have seen increasing attacks in the country with most of them claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is ideologically aligned with the Afghan Taliban. Last year saw more than 1,500 deaths in the country due to these attacks. Tipu, co-founder of The Khorasan Diary, a security research portal, emphasised the significance of the attack on the seminary and the killing of Hamid-ul-Haq. 'This seminary has deep historical ties with the Afghan Taliban. Many of its students fought against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and the current Afghan rulers are actively cracking down on ISKP in their country,' he said. According to Tipu, the conflict between the Afghan Taliban and ISKP is being fought both on the battlefield and in the ideological sphere. The Taliban has labelled ISKP as 'Takfiris', meaning those excommunicated from Islam.
Saudi Gazette
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Six killed in suicide bombing at Pakistan Islamic seminary
ISLAMABAD — At least six worshippers were killed in a suicide attack during Friday prayers at an Islamic seminary in northwestern Pakistan, Reuters reported quoting government officials. The head of the religious school was among those killed, said provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif. The dead man, Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq, was the son of the late Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, considered the father of the Taliban. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The attacker, wearing an explosive-laden suicide vest, walked up to Haq as he was leaving a mosque on the premises of the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, his brother Maulana Abdul Haq told Reuters. 'Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq... died on the spot and around two dozen people were injured in the blast,' he said. Regional police officer Najeebur Rahman said earlier that several people were wounded. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, and expressed sorrow over Haq's death, in a statement issued by his office. Tucked away in a dusty Pakistani town off the main motorway leading to the Afghan border, Darul Uloom Haqqania University was the launch pad for the Taliban movement in the 1990s. It is still often described as an incubator for radical Islamists. Pakistan is battling twin insurgencies, one mounted by Islamists and the other by ethnic militants seeking secession over what they say is the government's unfair division of natural resources. — Agencies
