Latest news with #HamidulHaqHaqqani
Express Tribune
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Seminary suicide attack case registered
An FIR has been registered against an unknown attacker following the suicide bombing that claimed the lives of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani and six others at Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak. The FIR was lodged at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Mardan region police station on the complaint of Maulana Abdul Haq Sani, son of the slain JUI-S chief. Sani, who was accompanying his father at the time of the blast, sustained injuries in the attack. According to the FIR, Sani and his father were leaving the seminary for home after Friday prayers when an unknown individual approached them near the seminary's small gate. The suspect then detonated explosives which caused the deadly explosion. The blast killed six people, including the JUI-S chief, and injured several others. Sani stated that seminary students and teachers were present at the time of the attack. On Saturday, a large number of people, including Afghan diplomat, attended the funeral prayer of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani. On Saturday, a large number of people, including an Afghan diplomat, attended the funeral prayer of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani. The prayer, held at the seminary, was led by his son, Maulana Abdul Haq Sani. Security was tightened around Darul Uloom Haqqania, with heavy police deployment and scanners installed at the seminary's entry points. After the funeral, Maulana Hamidul Haq was laid to rest beside his father, Maulana Samiul Haq. In the wake of the tragedy, Maulana Rashidul Haq Haqqani, the slain leader's brother, was appointed as the seminary's deputy administrator by unanimous decision, while Maulana Abdul Haq Sani was chosen as his father's political successor. Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed visited Nowshera to assess the security arrangements for the funeral and held a meeting at the DPO office with regional and investigation officers, as well as CTD officials. During the meeting, the Regional Police Officer provided a detailed briefing on the progress of the investigation. The IG condemned the attack on the sacred seminary, calling it a cowardly act by the enemies of the nation. He urged law enforcement officials to use their expertise to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He reassured that such terrorist acts would not weaken the resolve of the nation, stating that the police would work with the public to foil the enemies' plans and restore peace in the country. Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa CTD released an image of the severed head of a suspected suicide bomber. The department has urged the public to help identify the individual by providing any relevant information, including name, parentage, and residence. The CTD also announced a reward of Rs0.5 million to anyone who provides accurate details regarding the suspect. The department has assured that the identity of the informer will be kept strictly confidential. Following the devastating suicide blast, the tranquil town of Akora Khattak is in deep mourning. The explosion, which also left more than 20 others injured, has left the entire community in deep shock, grappling with the aftermath of the brutal attack on the peaceful worshipers. (More input from APP)
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Reward announced for information on suicide bomber behind Nowshera seminary attack
Listen to article The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has announced a monetary reward for information about the unidentified suicide bomber responsible for the deadly attack on a seminary in Nowshera district. Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq and head of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S), was among six victims who died in the suicide bombing at the Darul Uloom Haqqania on Friday. An additional 18 people were injured when the bomber detonated explosives after the Friday prayers congregation. A view of people gathering as the funeral of JUI-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani is held at Darul Uloom Haqqania. Photo courtesy: AP On Saturday, thousands of mourners gathered for Haq's funeral at Jamia Haqqania, the seminary where he served as the head. The bombing, which specifically targeted Haq, also killed six others. Haq, the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, who was assassinated in 2018, was a prominent figure in Pakistan's religious and political landscape. This bombing is part of a series of four attacks across Pakistan on the same day, two of which occurred at mosques, raising concerns about the timing just before Ramadan. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Haq's son, Maulana Abdulhaq Sani, who was also injured in the attack. The FIR, filed with the CTD's Mardan police station, includes charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with other sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Authorities have released a photograph of the alleged suicide bomber and are offering a reward of Rs500,000 (approximately $1,787) for information leading to the attacker's identification. They are seeking details on the bomber's name, parentage, and place of residence. People mourn the death of JUI-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, one of six victims killed in the suicide bombing at Darul Uloom Haqqania on Friday. Photo: AFP A statement from the KP police assured that the identity of any informant would remain confidential. The public can contact the authorities through the numbers 0315-9135456 and 091-9212591. The funeral service for Haq was held at the seminary, with mourners filling the main hall and spilling onto the street. Thanks to a heavy police presence and the protection provided by seminary students, the prayers proceeded peacefully without any incidents. Life of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the Deputy Head of Darul Uloom Haqqania and son of the late religious leader Maulana Samiul Haq, was born on May 26, 1968, in Akora Khattak. He received his religious education at Darul Uloom Haqqania, the same institution where his paternal uncle, Maulana Anwar-ul-Haq Haqqani, served as the Head. Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani's grandfather, Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani, was the founder of Jamaat-e-Ulema Pakistan, a prominent political figure, and a former member of the National Assembly. His father, Maulana Samiul Haq, was a member of the Senate and played a pivotal role in forming new religious alliances in Pakistan. A student from Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Akora Khattak is seen leaving the institution on October 19, 2020. Photo: AFP Hamidul Haq Haqqani was instrumental in the creation of the United Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of religious parties. In 2001, following the US invasion of Afghanistan, he founded the Defence Afghanistan Council, which later evolved into the MMA, a key political alliance of religious groups. In 2002, Hamidul Haq Haqqani was elected as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Nowshera, where he represented his constituency until 2007. Following the tragic assassination of his father in 2018, Hamidul Haq Haqqani took on the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and became the Deputy Head of Darul Uloom Haqqania.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suicide bombing mastermind killed in suicide attack
A split in Afghanistan's Taliban government has violently spilled into Pakistan after a suicide bombing mastermind was himself killed in a suicide attack. Hamid ul Haq Haqqani died in a blast at his Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania school – dubbed the 'University of Jihad'– in northern Pakistan on Friday, shortly after prayers had concluded. At least six others were killed in the attack, with 20 so far reported injured, police said. Taliban sources told The Telegraph that the cleric was likely another casualty of an internal power struggle that has brought the group to the brink of civil war. He had days earlier urged the group's members in both countries to pledge allegiance to Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's interior minister, over Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader, who is facing an internal revolt over women's rights, the sources added. Hamid ul Haq Haqqani was the son of 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 Dar-ul-Uloom school. The school's sprawling campus in Pakistan's Akora Khattak is home to around 4,000 students who are fed, clothed and educated for free. Rahmatullah Nabil, former director of Afghanistan's national directorate of security said: 'This is a human being in the guise of the devil. He and his father were both merchants of death.' The cleric Haqqani had close ties to the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, which is at odds with the Taliban supreme leader. A Haqqani network commander earlier this month ordered the arrest of an elderly British couple in Afghanistan, in what is thought to have been a political move related to a struggle between factions loyal to the supreme leader Akhundzada and the interior minister Haqqani. The interior ministry, responsible for detentions and potential releases, is controlled by the Haqqani network, which appeared to engineer the situation to challenge the establishment in Kandahar, where the supreme leader is based. Tensions are mounting between the group and top Taliban leaders in Kandahar, who are battling a rebellion over the regime's crackdown on women's rights. A Taliban official in Kandahar said: 'A week ago, at the same school, he [Hamid ul Haq Haqqani] gave a major speech praising Sirajuddin [Haqqani], urging all Taliban members in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to support him over the supreme Mullah.' He added: 'He described [Sirajuddin] Haqqani as a true fighter who deserves more. These remarks did not sit well with many here, and it is possible that someone opposed to Sirajuddin carried out the attack.' While the Taliban initially presented a unified front during their takeover of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and allied forces in 2021, divisions within the leadership have become increasingly apparent. Ahmad Saeedi, an Afghan analyst, said the attack in Pakistan would prompt the Haqqani network to retaliate against figures close to supreme leader Akhundzada. He said: 'Hamid ul Haq was a close friend of Sirajuddin and his father and a key pillar of this faction within the Taliban – now, they will seek to strike back.' Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman for the interior ministry in Kabul, said the government 'strongly condemned the attack' and blamed the Islamic State. Isis, a rival of the Taliban but with which it shares a similar hardline Islamic ideology, has been responsible for several attacks against the Taliban government since it retook power in 2021. Omar Samad, former Afghan ambassador to Canada and France and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said internal divisions within the Taliban could create opportunities for other groups to exploit the situation and advance their own interests. He said: 'It's now the Pakistani government's responsibility to investigate the attack and reveal who was behind it.' Following the killing of Sirajuddin Haqqani's uncle, the Taliban's minister for refugees, in Kabul last year, some blamed rival factions within the group for his death. Mr Samad said: 'Today's attack being a continuation of what happened last year is one of the possible scenarios.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Suicide bombing mastermind killed in suicide attack
A split in Afghanistan 's Taliban government has violently spilled into Pakistan after a suicide bombing mastermind was himself killed in a suicide attack. Hamid ul Haq Haqqani died in a blast at his Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania school – dubbed the 'University of Jihad'– in northern Pakistan on Friday, shortly after prayers had concluded. At least six others were killed in the attack, with 20 so far reported injured, police said. Taliban sources told The Telegraph that the cleric was likely another casualty of an internal power struggle that has brought the group to the brink of civil war. He had days earlier urged the group's members in both countries to pledge allegiance to Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's interior minister, over Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader, who is facing an internal revolt over women's rights, the sources added. Hamid ul Haq Haqqani was the son of 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 Dar-ul-Uloom school. The school's sprawling campus in Pakistan's Akora Khattak is home to around 4,000 students who are fed, clothed and educated for free. Rahmatullah Nabil, former director of Afghanistan's national directorate of security said: 'This is a human being in the guise of the devil. He and his father were both merchants of death.' The cleric Haqqani had close ties to the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, which is at odds with the Taliban supreme leader. A Haqqani network commander earlier this month ordered the arrest of an elderly British couple in Afghanistan, in what is thought to have been a political move related to a struggle between factions loyal to the supreme leader Akhundzada and the interior minister Haqqani. The interior ministry, responsible for detentions and potential releases, is controlled by the Haqqani network, which appeared to engineer the situation to challenge the establishment in Kandahar, where the supreme leader is based. Tensions are mounting between the group and top Taliban leaders in Kandahar, who are battling a rebellion over the regime's crackdown on women's rights. A Taliban official in Kandahar said: 'A week ago, at the same school, he [Hamid ul Haq Haqqani] gave a major speech praising Sirajuddin [Haqqani], urging all Taliban members in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to support him over the supreme Mullah.' He added: 'He described [Sirajuddin] Haqqani as a true fighter who deserves more. These remarks did not sit well with many here, and it is possible that someone opposed to Sirajuddin carried out the attack.' While the Taliban initially presented a unified front during their takeover of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and allied forces in 2021, divisions within the leadership have become increasingly apparent. Ahmad Saeedi, an Afghan analyst, said the attack in Pakistan would prompt the Haqqani network to retaliate against figures close to supreme leader Akhundzada. He said: 'Hamid ul Haq was a close friend of Sirajuddin and his father and a key pillar of this faction within the Taliban – now, they will seek to strike back.' Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman for the interior ministry in Kabul, said the government 'strongly condemned the attack' and blamed the Islamic State. Isis, a rival of the Taliban but with which it shares a similar hardline Islamic ideology, has been responsible for several attacks against the Taliban government since it retook power in 2021. Omar Samad, former Afghan ambassador to Canada and France and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said internal divisions within the Taliban could create opportunities for other groups to exploit the situation and advance their own interests. He said: 'It's now the Pakistani government's responsibility to investigate the attack and reveal who was behind it.' Following the killing of Sirajuddin Haqqani's uncle, the Taliban's minister for refugees, in Kabul last year, some blamed rival factions within the group for his death. Mr Samad said: 'Today's attack being a continuation of what happened last year is one of the possible scenarios.'
