Pakistan: Death toll in suicide blast in Taliban-linked seminary touches six

The deceased included Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani,  son of Maulana Samiul Haq and chief of his faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S).

Maulana Samiul Haq, a prominent cleric, was often described as the “father of the Taliban.” 

Local newspaper Dawn News reported that a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body after Friday's prayer.

The blast reportedly left 18 people injured.

“Maulana Haq was leaving the seminary for his home after prayers when he was targeted by the suicide bomber,” KP Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed told Dawn.

Hameed said three policemen were among those injured in the incident.

They were reportedly deployed to the venue to give protection to JUI-S chief.

Police have launched a probe into the incident.

JUI-S Leader Reacts

A senior JUI-S leader and Haq’s close confidant, Maulana Yousaf Shah, however, claimed that Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani had never shared any information regarding threats to his life, reported Dawn News.

“Those who targeted him are the enemies of the religion,” Shah said.

Attacker Dressed As Religious Scholar

An eyewitness claimed the suicide bomber was dressed like a religious scholar.

He arrived at the gate just as the Maulana was leaving the mosque and detonated the explosives,” Muhammad Mudassar, a local resident told Dawn News.

The Seminary's Connection With Taliban

Founded in 1947 by Islamic scholar Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani, the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary had often found itself in the midst of controversies.

It is alleged that the seminary has links to extremist groups and senior Taliban leaders such as Amir Khan Muttaqi, Abdul Latif Mansoor, and Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the Haqqani network, are part of its alumni.

Despite its leadership denying the claim, it is alleged that the seminary was involved in the assassination of former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

The western media often dubbed the seminary as 'Jihad University'.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.