Seminary blast in Pakistan claims lives, including top cleric

A devastating explosion rocked a mosque housed within a pro-Taliban seminary in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, resulting in the tragic deaths of a prominent cleric and several worshippers, with numerous others injured. The attack took place just as the Muslim community prepares for the holy month of Ramadan, as reported by local police.

The incident occurred in the Akora Khattak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to district police chief Abdul Rashid, the attack claimed the life of Hamidul Haq, a notable figure leading a faction of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) party. Following the attack, no group immediately stepped forward to claim responsibility.

Hamidul Haq was notably recognized as the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, the individual often referred to as the “father of the Taliban.” His father was fatally attacked in his home in 2018. Haq’s family confirmed his untimely death and called for calm among his followers. Hamidul Haq was also at the helm of the Jamia Haqqania seminary, renowned for educating many Afghan Taliban over the past two decades.

Zulfiqar Hameed, the provincial police chief, indicated that when the attack transpired, more than a dozen police officers were tasked with guarding the mosque, complemented by the seminary’s own security measures. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan denounced the attack, especially as it came on the eve of Ramadan, which is slated to start over the weekend depending on the moon sighting.

Witnesses recounted the harrowing experience of the blast. Officer Yawar Zia, who sustained injuries during the attack, was standing vigilant at the seminary when the explosion occurred. Describing the scene, he shared that as Hamidul Haq was making his way out of the mosque after prayers, a powerful blast erupted near the main gate. Witnesses recalled the mayhem and the grievous scene, riddled with blood and debris, which could have been exponentially worse during prayer time.

The attack adds to a growing list of similar incidents Pakistan has faced in recent years. In 2023, an attack on a mosque in Peshawar resulted in the deaths of over 100 individuals, primarily police officers. Such acts have frequently been attributed to the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

While the TTP historically avoids claiming responsibility for attacks on mosques — asserting that they do not target religious sites — they are a known ally to the Afghan Taliban. Following the Taliban’s ascendancy in Afghanistan in 2021, the TTP has drawn renewed strength and found refuge in the region.

Coinciding with this tragic attack, a separate incident unfolded in Quetta, a city in southwestern Pakistan, where a roadside bomb detonated near a security vehicle, resulting in injuries to ten individuals, including two soldiers. Although the attack did not garner immediate claims of responsibility, similar past incidents have been attributed to separatist movements seeking autonomy from the central Pakistani government in Islamabad. Despite assertions that these insurgencies have been subdued, violence in the region persists.