Religious scholar Hamidul Haq among 5 martyred in suicide bombing at Jamia Haqqania.
Five people, including renowned religious scholar Maulana Hamidul Haq, were martyred and more than 10 injured as a suicide bomber detonated himself amid worshippers at the Jamia Haqqania in Akora Khattak in Nowshera during Friday prayers with authorities rushing ambulances to the blast site, reported The Asian Mirror.
Medical teams along with six ambulances arrived at the scene and an emergency was sounded in all the hospitals in Nowshera and Peshawar.
Jamia Haqqania’s Deputy Administrator Maulana Hamidul Haq, who was the elder son of late JUI leader Maulana Samiul Haq, was seriously injured in the blast.
“Five people have died, and eleven others are wounded. However, there are fears that the death toll may rise,” said police officer Noor Ali Khan, adding that the head of the Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania was also killed.
Eyewitnesses said Maulana Hamidul Haq was targeted in the courtyard between his residence and the mosque. KP chief secretary confirmed the death of Maulana Hamid.
Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif also confirmed in a statement that Maulana Hamidul Haq was among the dead.
“He was a great religious scholar whose immense services to Islam are unforgettable,” he said. “Maulana Hamidul Haq’s martyrdom is an irreparable loss.”
The explosion happened as people gathered for weekly Friday prayers at the Dar-ul-Uloom Haqqania seminary in Akora Khattak, about 60 kilometres east of Peshawar.
The sprawling campus is home to roughly 4,000 students who are fed, clothed, and educated for free.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and KP Chief Minister Ali Gandapur have strongly condemned the bomb blast in Nowshera.
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the “heinous act of targeting worshippers in [a] suicide attack,” according to a statement from the President’s House. “Targeting innocent worshippers is a despicable and heinous act,” he said. “Terrorists are enemies of the country, nation, and humanity.”
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the incident and prayed for the recovery of Maulana Haq and others who were injured, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He directed that the best medical facilities be administered to the injured and sought a report of the incident.
“Such cowardly and heinous acts of terrorism cannot dampen our resolve against terrorism,” the PM said. “[We are] resolute to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while denouncing blast, expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious human lives, according to the interior ministry’s post on X.
The minister extended heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs prays for the speedy recovery of the injured, including Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur “severely” condemned the incident, asking authorities to submit a report immediately. The chief minister, in a statement, also directed officials to rescue the injured persons in the incident in a timely manner and “provide them with the best medical facilities.”.
“Targeting innocent people in a place of worship is an inhumane act,” he said, adding that “all available resources should be used to bring the elements involved in the heartbreaking incident to justice.”.
