Six persons have been killed in a devastating suicide explosion at Darul Uloom Haqqania in the Akora Khattak neighborhood of Nowshera, including Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S). More than a dozen people received injuries as well in the February 28, 2025, incident that took place after Friday services. During prayers, an attacker broke through a side gate and targeted the mosque, which is part of the religious school’s grounds. After the casualties were quickly taken to local hospitals by rescue crews, forensic and security teams started their investigations.
According to reports, the main target was Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq Haqqani, who is regarded as the “spiritual father of the Taliban.” The safety of Pakistani religious establishments has been under scrutiny following the 2018 assassination of his father. Even mosques and seminaries are no longer secure, according to the JUI-S spokesperson, who condemned the attack.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi described the attack as a “conspiracy of hostile forces” and condemned the provincial government for its security management. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and strongly condemned the explosion.
This tragedy comes after several mosque attacks in the area, such as the Peshawar Police Lines explosion in January 2023, which claimed over 100 lives. The Islamic State group was held responsible for the massacres, which was also denounced by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The country mourn the deaths and demands stronger counterterrorism measures as investigations continue. In light of ongoing threats, the attack emphasizes the critical need for increased security and soldarity.
