JUI-S chief, 7 others martyred in suicide blast at Madrasa Haqqania

NOWSHERA/PESHAWAR/QUETTA: A suicide bombing at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Nowshera’s Akora Khattak claimed the lives of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Sami (JUIS) chief and deputy administrator of the seminary, Maulana Hamidul Haq, along with seven others.

Among the martyrs, two individuals remained unidentified, as the DNA samples were sent to a forensic laboratory for verification.

The powerful explosion, which also left 17 people injured, occurred at the gate through which Maulana Hamid, along with his companions, was entering his residence from the mosque after Friday prayers. His son, Maulana Abdul Haq Sani, was among the injured and was discharged from hospital after medical treatment. Seven injured were currently receiving treatment at Qazi Hussain Medical Complex, while two others were admitted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Nowshera.

Authorities confirmed that Maulana Hamidul Haq was the target of the attack. The explosion was so intense that it was heard as far as Nowshera Cantonment and Jehangira Town. Thousands of worshippers were present at the mosque at the time of the attack. The funeral prayers for Maulana Hamidul Haq would be held on Saturday (today) at 11am at Darul Uloom Haqqania, where he would be laid to rest beside his father.

According to the deputy commissioner, Maulana Hamidul Haq was taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Nowshera in a critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Five more victims, including Asadullah Khan from Charsadda and Shakirullah from Afghanistan (currently residing in Akora Khattak, lost their lives at Qazi Hussain Medical Complex. Three of the deceased remained unidentified.

Tanveer Afzal, secretary to JUIS chief, also succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Peshawar.

Authorities recovered the severed head of the alleged suicide bomber, which was sent for DNA testing. Geo-fencing of the area was commenced, and forensic evidence collected. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act and launched an investigation. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said 17 policemen were deployed for security of the seminary while six cops were separately deployed with Hamidul Haq. He added that apart from the 23 cops, additional security was also deployed for the Friday prayers.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi have sought report on the blast and termed it a conspiracy of forces that were hostile to Islam and Pakistan.

Separately, one man was killed and five others were injured in a blast inside a shop at Sama Mamozai bazaar in Upper Orakzai, officials said on Friday. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Irfanuddin said the explosion took place at Qureshian Chowk inside a shop due to an unexpected detonation of explosive material.

Also, at least nine people, including a security official, were injured, two of them seriously, in a bomb blast, taking place in Jan Muhammad Road area of Quetta, on Friday. Officials said that blast occurred at the crossing of Jan Muhammad and Al-Gilani roads near a mosque and religious madrasa when a vehicle of security forces was passing by after the Friday prayers. They said unknown miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device in a motorbike and parked it at the crossing of two roads when a patrolling vehicle reached at the site. The explosive-laden motorbike exploded targeting the vehicle. “We have received nine injured in the hospital,” Dr Wasim Baig said, adding that the condition of two was serious.

Target of the blast was Frontier Corps vehicle, Anwar Ali Khan, a senior police officer, said, adding that 3-kg explosive was used in the IED, which was detonated with remote control.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday strongly condemned the suicide blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak. Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao condemned the blas. Separately, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed deep sorrow through his telephone call to the family of Shaheed Hamidul Haq from Madina Munawwara. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Central) President Abdul Wasi also condemned the attack as a “cowardly and shameful act”.

Meanwhile, the leadership of JUIF Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including KP President Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman, General Secretary Maulana Ataul Haq Darvesh and Information Secretary Abdul Jalil Jan described the attack as a big tragedy.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan also strongly condemned the bomb blast in Nowshera. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, head of Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) Pakistan Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari strongly condemned the explosion, expressing heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs.

Meanwhile, security forces killed six khwarij in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan on Friday. The security forces conducted an IBO in general area Ghulam Khan Kalay of North Waziristan district, on reported presence of khwarij. The troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, and killed six khwarij. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the khwarij den. These khwarij had remained actively involved in numerous activities against the security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the officers and personnel of the security forces over their successful operation against foreign militants in North Waziristan.