NOWSHERA: JUI-S leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani among six people killed and several injured in suicide blast at the Darul Uloom Haqqania mosque in Akora Khattak area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshera district, police confirmed.
District Police Officer (DPO) Abdul Rasheed confirmed that an explosion took place in the front rows of the mosque soon after the Friday prayer.
Inspector General Police (IGP) KP Zulfiqar Hameed said that the explosion was a suicide attack and three policemen were also injured in the attack.
Hameed confirmed that former NA member and JUI-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq, the son of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq Haqqani, was the target of the attack.
“Maulana Haq was leaving the seminary for his home after prayers when he was targeted by the suicide bomber,” KP Police Chief added.
Maulana Hamid, the vice administrator of Darul Uloom Haqqania and emir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), succumbed to his injuries as he was being given medical aid, the top cop said.
Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured and dead bodies to nearby hospitals, and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area.
The bodies of four deceased have been kept at the Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex, while the other injured are receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Hamid’s body is at Nowshera CMH.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an immediate report on the incident and directed officials to provide the best medical facilities to the wounded.
“Targeting innocent people in a place of worship is an inhumane act,” Gandapur said, adding that all available resources should be used to bring the elements involved in the heartbreaking incident to justice.
Haqqani, the son of assassinated cleric Maulana Samiul Haq, served as vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom Haqqania and chairman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) political party. He previously served as a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007.
Condemnations pour in
President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the suicide explosion at the Jamia Mosque of Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak.
In a statement today (Friday), he expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in the terrorist incident.
The President said targeting innocent worshippers is a despicable and heinous act. He said terrorists are the foes of the nation, country, and humanity. He prayed for the higher status in heaven for the departed souls and commiserated with the bereaved families.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the explosion at Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak.
In a statement, he prayed for the recovery of JUI (S) Chief Maulana Hamid ul-Haq and other injured individuals.
The Prime Minister instructed that the injured be provided with all possible medical assistance.
He said such cowardly and reprehensible acts of terrorism cannot weaken our resolve against terrorism. He reaffirmed the determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms.
