Blast at religious seminary in northwestern Pakistan kills prominent religious leader, six others

A deadly explosion ripped through the main mosque of Haqqania madrassa in northwestern Pakistan during Friday prayers, killing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Hamidul Haq and six others, officials said.

The blast occurred at the seminary’s central mosque in Akora Khattak, a town in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Abdul Rashid, rescue teams arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Sani Haqqani, the son of Maulana Hamidul Haq, confirmed that the mosque was crowded at the time of the explosion. He said initial reports indicated that multiple people had been killed, while dozens suffered injuries.

The Central Police Office in Peshawar stated that the blast occurred after the Friday prayer congregation. Authorities are working to determine the nature of the explosion.

Suicide attack targeted Maulana Hamidul Haq

Inspector General (IG) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police confirmed that the attack was targeted, with Maulana Hamidul Haq being the intended victim. He stated that the explosion was a suicide attack.

Maulana Hamidul Haq (center) and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman (right) in an undated photo.Nukta

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah later confirmed that Maulana Hamidul Haq had succumbed to his injuries.

Maulana Hamidul Haq was the son of late Maulana Samiul Haq, an influential religious scholar and former senator.

Hospital Director of Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex, Dr Kamran Hakim, confirmed that six people were killed. Four of the deceased have been identified as Hamidul Haq, Shakir Ullah, Asghar, and Yawar Zia, while the identities of the remaining two are yet to be determined.

According to spokesperson Muhammad Asim, Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar also received one deceased individual, identified as Tanvir.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

‘Tragic and deplorable’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast and directed authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured.

“These cowardly and despicable acts of terrorism cannot weaken our resolve to fight against terrorism,” he said.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri condemned the attack, calling it “tragic and deplorable”. He said mosques and religious seminaries were no longer safe and blamed the government’s policies for deteriorating security.

“The government is too occupied with cricket to focus on public safety,” Ghauri said, adding that citizens were left without support.

The spokesperson urged party workers and volunteers to assist in rescue efforts and called for blood donations for the injured.

“We pray for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and for the swift recovery of those wounded,” Ghauri said.

Taliban condemn blast

Afghanistan's Taliban government also condemned the blast.

"We strongly condemn the attack, we know them as the enemies of the religion, we have tried our best to eliminate them successfully," said Afghan interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani, blaming the attack that has not yet been claimed on the Islamic State group.