NOWSHERA: Including Jamiat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) Chief Maulana Hamidul Haq, seven people were killed in a suicide bomb blast inside the prominent ‘Darul Uloom Haqqania’, located in Akora Khattak, Nowsher, on Friday.
Deputy Commission Nowshera Irfan Masood confirmed the death of Maulana Hamidul Haq, saying a total five people have been killed in the blast.
According to officials, two more injured succumbed to their injuries, taking the tally of victims to seven in the late evening on Friday.
Maulana Hamidul Haq was head of the JUI-S and Darul Uloom Haqqania.
The explosion took place during Friday prayers in the madrassa’s main hall.
Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, who leads JUI-S as its chief, was the son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq, who was killed in Islamabad in 2018. Hamidul Haq Haqqani also served as a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007.
Following his father’s tragic death, Hamidul Haq assumed the roles of chief at Jamia Darul Uloon Haqqania and chairman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami).
Inspector General of Police Chaudhry Zulfiqar Hameed said that the target of the suicide bombing, which occurred after Friday prayers, was Maulana Hamidul Haq. He said that the bomb disposal squad had arrived at the location to collect the evidence, and law enforcement authorities have initiated their investigation into the incident.
Police said that several people sustained serious injuries in the blast. Rescue 1122 teams have reached the scene and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals and Peshawar. A state of emergency has been declared at the Lady Reading Hospital.
Authorities at Qazi Medical Hospital Nowshera confirmed that the hospital received 20 injured in the suicide bombing.
DPO Nowshera Abdul Rashid says that rescue teams have reached the spot, JUI-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq was also injured in the explosion.
Maulana Hamidul Haq’s son Sani Haqqani has confirmed that hundreds of people were present in the mosque at the time of the explosion and there are reports of 4 to 5 people being killed in the explosion, while dozens of people were also injured.
According to the Central Police Office Peshawar, the explosion at Madrasa Haqqania Akora Khattak took place after Friday prayers. The nature of the explosion at Madrasa Haqqania Akora Khattak is being ascertained.
The footages shared on social media platforms show that several bodies were lying on the ground inside the Madrasa. However, the police have yet to confirm casualties in the blast.
Rescue officials claim that Maulana Hamidul Haq, the son of the founder of the madrassa – Maulana Samiul Haq, is also among the injured.
The area has been cordoned off, and investigations are ongoing. Security personnel had been deployed in significant numbers due to existing threats in different areas. Officials are working to resolve security challenges in collaboration with relevant agencies.
The seminary, often referred to as the “University of Jihad,” was founded by Maulana Samiul Haq.
