Martyrs of Nowshera Madrassa Attack
Nowshera: A suicide blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Nowshera, claimed the lives of four individuals, including Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, on Friday. Police and rescue officials confirmed that over 20 people sustained injuries in the explosion.
Blast Targets JUI-S Leader Maulana Hamidul Haq
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, the explosion took place inside the madrassa following Friday prayers, specifically targeting Maulana Hamidul Haq. The attack has been classified as a suicide bombing.
Emergency teams promptly arrived at the scene, while security forces cordoned off the area for safety and investigation. An emergency was declared across hospitals in Peshawar to accommodate the injured.
Martyrs and Casualties
Eyewitnesses reported that a section of the mosque within the seminary was damaged due to the blast. Among the casualties was Maulana Hamidul Haq, a former National Assembly member and head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), who took charge of the party after his father, Maulana Samiul Haq, was martyred in 2018.
Darul Uloom Haqqania’s Historical Background
Darul Uloom Haqqania, founded in September 1947 by Islamic scholar Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani, has been a well-known religious institution. The seminary has faced controversies in the past, with allegations of its students’ links to the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto—claims the institution has denied.
Security Concerns and Rising Militancy
Pakistan has been witnessing an increase in militant attacks, particularly in its western border regions, following the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan in 2021. According to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), last year recorded over 1,500 casualties, marking a six-year high in militant violence.
Security forces have been actively combating terrorist activities. Recently, on January 18-19, five militants from the banned Fitna Al Khawarij group were neutralized while attempting to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Zhob district.
Last month, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir highlighted Pakistan’s security concerns, emphasizing that the primary issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the presence of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan and the ongoing cross-border attacks.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are currently investigating the attack, gathering further details on the perpetrators and their motives. The government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing security measures to curb militant violence in the region.
Stay updated for further developments on this tragic incident.
