Maps
Magazine

CRIME

Suicide Blast in Nowshera Kills JUI-S Leader, 4 Others
Suicide blast at Darul Uloom Haqqania, Nowshera, kills JUI-S leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani & 4 others, injuring 20+. Emergency declared in hospitals. No group has claimed responsibility yet.
ND
by News Desk
2025-02-28
Suicide Blast in Nowshera Kills JUI-S Leader, 4 Others

A suicide blast tore through Darul Uloom Haqqania in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday, killing at least five people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, and injuring 20 others, officials confirmed.

The explosion occurred in the main prayer hall during Friday prayers, sending shockwaves across the country.

Police Confirm Suicide Attack

KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed confirmed the incident, stating:

“It was a suicide blast. Three policemen were also injured in the attack.”

A statement from KP Police’s Directorate of Public Relations revealed that the blast occurred at 2 PM, with police and rescue teams rushing to the site. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, and the KP government declared an emergency in all Peshawar hospitals, ensuring the availability of medical staff and medicines.

Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani: The Likely Target

Authorities believe Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani was the intended target of the attack. Haqqani, son of assassinated cleric Maulana Samiul Haq, was the vice chancellor of Darul Uloom Haqqania and chairman of JUI-S. He also previously served as a National Assembly member (2002-2007).

In 2023, he led a delegation of religious scholars to Afghanistan for meetings with Taliban leaders in an effort to ease tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Condemnations Pour In

National leaders condemned the attack, calling it a barbaric act of terrorism.

  • President Asif Ali Zardari:

“Targeting innocent worshippers is a despicable and heinous act.”

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif:

“Such cowardly acts will not weaken our resolve against terrorism.”

  • KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur:

“All resources will be used to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

International Reactions

The Afghan Taliban also condemned the attack, with spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani blaming the Islamic State (IS) group, though no group has officially claimed responsibility yet.

A History of Attacks on Mosques in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen numerous deadly attacks on places of worship.

  • January 30, 2023: A blast at Peshawar Police Lines mosque killed 101 people.
  • March 2022: A suicide attack at Jamia Masjid Koocha Risaldar claimed dozens of lives.

The latest attack raises serious security concerns, as authorities continue to investigate and hunt down those responsible.
Tagged:

Pakistan

Terrorism

NowsheraBlast

JUI_S

MaulanaHamidulHaq
Share News: