Nowshera, February 28, 2025: At least four people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, were martyred in a suicide blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania in the Akora Khattak area of Nowshera district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Around a dozen others sustained injuries in the attack.
According to a statement from the Central Police Office, the explosion occurred after Friday prayers inside the mosque situated within the seminary compound. Authorities have confirmed it was a suicide bombing, with initial reports suggesting Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani was the primary target.
Zulfiqar Hameed, Inspector General (IG) of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, told local news channels that the attacker entered the mosque through a side gate during the prayers. Rescue and security teams quickly arrived at the scene and transported the victims to nearby hospitals.
A spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) MTI stated that emergency services were placed on high alert to handle casualties from the blast, ensuring prompt medical assistance for the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack, expressing their condolences over the loss of lives.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghori called the incident tragic and condemnable, voicing concerns over the increasing insecurity in mosques and religious institutions. He urged JUI workers to assist the victims and appealed for blood donations to aid the injured.
Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani was the son of Maulana Samiul Haq Haqqani, a prominent religious and political figure often referred to as “the spiritual father of the Taliban.” Maulana Samiul Haq was assassinated in his Rawalpindi residence by unidentified assailants on November 2, 2018.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, while security has been heightened across religious seminaries in the region.
