Masses gather for cleric’s funeral after Pakistan blast

In Akora Khattak, Pakistan, a large congregation gathered for a funeral on Saturday to mourn the death of a cleric associated with the Taliban, who was killed in a suicide bombing at a seminary in the country’s northwest.

The attack, which took place on Friday, claimed the life of Hamidul Haq, the leader of Jamia Haqqania seminary, along with six others. According to police, Haq was the intended target of the bomber who struck a mosque within the seminary’s grounds.

Hamidul Haq was the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, a significant figure in the establishment of both Afghan and Pakistani factions of the Taliban. The Jamia Haqqania seminary is known for having educated many Afghan Taliban members over recent decades.

During the funeral, the main hall of the seminary was crowded with mourners, with additional attendees praying outside on the streets. The event was heavily monitored by police, and was aided by seminary students who helped secure the area, ensuring that the prayers occurred without incident.

Cleric Muslim Jan, one of the speakers at the funeral, expressed deep sorrow, calling the suicide attack a grievous tragedy and lamenting the loss of “our teachers and brothers.” He described the occurrence as a disaster that is difficult to endure.

No group has yet taken responsibility for the assault carried out just before Ramadan. The authorities have shared a photograph of the suspected bomber and offered a reward of 500,000 rupees ($1,787) for information that could lead to his identification, parentage, and whereabouts.

This bombing at the seminary was one of four separate attacks in Pakistan on Friday, with two of those attacks occurring at mosques.