An explosion in the Madrassa-e-Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Nowshera on Friday killed Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq along with five others.
Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq was initially reported to be ‘critically injured’. However, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah later confirmed that Haq was killed in the blast.
At least 12 people were injured in the attack, who have now been transferred to hospitals, according to the Rescue 1122 officials.
The attack took place right after Friday prayers. Police have confirmed that the blast was a suicide bombing. A total of 16 policemen had been deployed in the mosque, with six guarding the Maulana.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, six ambulances were despatched to the seminary immediately on receiving the report of the blast.
Videos posted on Facebook showed scattered belongings and limbs inside the building of the seminary.
The Darul Uloom Haqqania is one of the oldest seminaries in Pakistan and was established on September 23, 1947 by Maulana Abdul Haq. After his death, the management of the madrassa passed on to his son, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who held it until his death in 2018.
While speaking to Khabar Kada, Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad described the bombing as a ‘heinous’ crime and said there was no justification in attacking a sacred place like a mosque.
“Suicide bombing is haram and is in complete contravention of Quran and Sunnah. Such barbaric actions are beyond any religion and humanity; and portray the sinister designs of these terrorist groups,” Azad said from Peshawar.
He described Haq as a knowledgeable man who was humble despite managing such a major madrassa.
Biography
Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq was born in 1968. He was son of the late Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, who was the head of Jamiat-e-Ulema (S). Hamid-ul-Haq became the head of the party after his father was assassinated in 2018.
Hamid-ul-Haq was once active in politics and even contested the 2002 general election on Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ticket from NA-6 in Nowshera. He ended up winning the seat and held it for nearly five years until his resignation in October 2007.
The official list of MNAs says that he ‘resigned in protest’ along with several other members of the MMA.
He became the leader of the JUI(S) after his father was stabbed to death in Rawalpindi, and held the post until he died. In 2019, he had to rush back from Saudi Arabia after his uncle, Maulana Alhaj Izharul Haq, who oversaw the seminary, abruptly passed away.
Haq was also the chairman of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council and had been advocating for a ‘unified platform’ to find a solution to Pakistan’s problem.
