LAHORE: Eminent cleric Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani is among the numerous widely-followed Pakistani religious scholars assassinated during the last 38 years, research conducted by the Jang Group and Geo Television Network shows.
Here follows the list of other distinguished religious leaders who have met unnatural deaths since 1987:
In January 2024, Masoodur Rehman Usmani was shot dead in Islamabad. He was the deputy secretary at the Sunni Ulema Council which had emerged after Pakistan outlawed the Sipah-e-Sahaba for extremism.
In December 2023, Allama Nasir Abbas, a leader of Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqah-e-Jafaria (a banned outfit), perished in a fatal attack in Lahore. In October 2020, head of Karachi’s Jamia Farooqia seminary, Maulana Dr Adil Khan, was shot dead by armed pillion riders. He was the son of a prominent scholar, the late Maulana Saleemullah Khan who had founded Karachi’s famous Jamia Farooqia. In February 2014, noted scholar, Allama Taqi Hadi Naqvi, died in a sectarian attack in Karachi. In December 2013, firing on Lahore’s Ravi Road had claimed the life of another religious leader, Maulana Shamsur Rehman.
In January 2013, Malik Mukhtar Hussain, a prominent organizer of Shia processions in Chiniot, had breathed his last after being gunned down at an Imambargah. In November 2012, Agha Aftab Haider Jafari, a prominent Shia leader was shot dead in Quetta. In January 2012, Haji Akhunzada, a commander of a banned militant outfit (Ansar-ul-Islam), was killed in a suicide attack outside his Peshawar home. In January 2012, Askari Raza, leader of Shia organization Pasban-e-Jafaria, lost life after he was critically injured on the New Year Eve in the port city.
At least 15,000 protesters had then staged a sit-in outside the Sindh Governor’s House to protest the murder.
In June 2009, Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, was killed in a suicide attack at his Jamia Naeemia Madrasa in Lahore. In February 2009, a Shia leader, Sher Zaman, was gunned down in Dera Ismail Khan. On January 26, 2009, Hussain Ali Yousafi (chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party) was shot dead in Quetta. In January 2009, Mufti Rustam, deputy chairman of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat was killed. In August 2008, another cleric, Haji Namdar, was killed in a Khyber Agency mosque.
In September 2007, former MNA Maulana Hassan Jan was killed in Peshawar.
In July 2006, Allama Hassan Turabi (chief of Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan) and his 12-year-old nephew were killed in Karachi. In May 2004, Deobandi scholar and head of Jamia Binoria Karachi, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, was gunned down. In October 2003, MNA Maulana Azam Tariq (chief of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan) was assassinated in Islamabad. In May 2002, illustrious scholar, Dr Ghulam Murtaza Malik, was shot dead in Lahore. In August 1998, Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan Chief Arif Hussain Al-Hussaini was killed in Peshawar. In January 1997, the linchpin of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba or Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Maulana Zia-ur-Rehman Farooqi, was killed in a bomb blast near Lahore’s Sessions Court. In June 1996, famous Shia leader and poet Mohsin Naqvi was killed in Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town.
In 1995, Dr Muhammad Ali Naqvi, founder of Imamia Students Organization and banned Tehreek Jafaria Pakistan, was killed in Lahore.
In March 1987, Sunni scholar Allama Ehsan Elahi Zaheer succumbed to injuries at a Riyadh hospital.
