Proscribed Lashkar-e-Islam head Mufti Shakir killed, 3 hurt in Peshawar bomb blast

PESHAWAR: A prominent religious scholar Mufti Munir Shakir, the founder of proscribed Lashkar-e-Islam, was killed and three other people were wounded in a bomb blast at the entrance of a mosque in Urmar area here on Saturday. A bomb apparently targeting the firebrand religious scholar Mufti Munir Shakir went off when he was entering the mosque in Kachori locality to offer Asr prayers.

The entrance of the mosque was partially damaged. Police said bomb disposal experts and investigation teams collected evidence from the spot.

Mufti Munir Shakir and three others, Khushal, Abid and Said Nabi, were wounded in the blast who were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital.

The spokesman for the LRH Mohammad Asim later told the media through a video message that Mufti Muneer Shakir succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. He said the body of the deceased was handed over to his family.

The firebrand religious scholar was popular for his speeches that went viral on different social media forums. He used to be guarded by several guards due to various threats.

Mufti Munir Shakir, 56, had established later proscribed Lashkar-e-Islam in Khyber district over two decades ago. He was a staunch rival of Peer Saifur Rehman. Later, Munir Shakir and Peer Saifur Rehman were forced to leave Khyber district after a Jirga verdict to maintain law and order in Khyber. Mufti Munir Shakir reappeared in the remote Urmar village in Peshawar in recent years.