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Maulana Samiul Haq assassinated at Rawalpindi residence
Influential religious scholar and former senator Maulana Samiul Haq has been assassinated at his residence in Rawalpindi, his son has confirmed.
Maulana Hamidul Haq said his octogenarian father was stabbed to death while he was resting in his room.
"His driver Haqqani had gone out. On his return, he saw that Maulana Sami was lying in his bed in a pool of blood," Hamid said while talking to Geo News.
The news of his death comes at a sensitive time, with religio-political parties out on the streets protesting the Supreme Court's acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, in a blasphemy case.
Maulana Sami, the chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, was unable to take part in the protest that was underway against Bibi's acquittal due to road blockades and had returned home, his son said.
"He was stabbed multiple times," Maulana Hamid said. Maulana Sami's driver/gunman had left the house, located in Bahria Town, for approximately 15 minutes when he was stabbed.
Yousaf Shah, the maulana's spokesman, said the attacker's identity and their motive were not immediately known.
Police have started an investigation into the killing.
The deceased's body was taken to his hometown Akora Khattak where he will be laid to rest tomorrow afternoon. No post-mortem was conducted, DawnNewsTV reported.
Maulana Sami, said to be around 82 years old, was the head of the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Akora Khattak.
He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.
He had been aligned with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for the July 25, 2018 election.
Prime Minister Imran Khan's party had sought to work closely with him to implement various reforms and mainstream madrassah education.
Maulana Sami was an influential figure among members of the Taliban on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Last month, a high-level delegation from Afghanistan had called on Sami, known as the "Father of the Taliban", at Darul Uloom Haqqania and urged him to play a role in resolving the Afghan issue.
The delegation had appealed to the JUI-S chief to play the role of a mediator between different groups of Taliban as they considered him [Maulana Sami] their elder. The delegation members assured him that they would accept his decision for reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Maulana Sami had told them that the Afghan issue was very complicated and its resolution was not an easy task for him. However, he had said he wished to see a logical end to the Afghan issue and an end to bloodshed in the country.
Profile: Maulana Sami
The Senate website describes him as: "A qualified religious scholar, an educationist, a research scholar and a lieutenant of his father, late Maulana Abdul Haq."
According to his Senate profile, Maulana Sami came from the spiritual family of Akora Khattak, where he was born in 1936.
A holder of Sanad-e-Fazilat-o-Faraghat and Sanad Daura Tafseer-e-Quran from Darul Uloom Haqqania, and Shaikh-ul-Hadith (honorary) from Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Sami imparted religious education at his alma mater to the students and held important positions in the academic and administrative staff of the seminary.
Comments (115) Closed
Sad news in Sad Circumstances..
Sad news: Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
This will only add more fuel to the fire.
Anarchy in Pakistan!
Uh oh
Just to remind he was considered the father of Taliban
Very sad news. In Na Lilahi wa Ina Ilahi Rajayoon
inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun
This will make things worse
Is this the reason PMIK did not stay back to handle the situation in Pakistan and rushed of to China.
Enemies of Pakistan couldn't have let the chance go. Religio-Political parties should step down from the protest/demands to save the country.
Very sad news.
INNA LILLALH WA INNA ILLAHA RAJAWUN
These geo religious groups will destroy Pakistan. It is about time to round up all their leaders and put them in jail.
How can a head of government leaves his country in a grave situation? Shame.
Sad news Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
May Allaha grant him place in Janat al firdos.
Indian hand.
Big loss for PTI.Prime Minister Imran Khan's party had sought to work closely with him to implement various reforms and mainstream madrassah education.Prime Minister Imran Khan's party had sought to work closely with him to implement various reforms and mainstream madrassah education.where is imran?
Who killed him?
Very Sad Incident . Enemies of Pakistan strike again.
Hope this has nothing to do with the current unrest.
May his soul rest in peace.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
Sad Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
@Nand, uh, no. The China visit was scheduled a long time ago, before the Bibi verdict.
He went, because the country cannot stay still, and be consumed by a single event. Other problems also need to be taken care of.
That is sad.
Just watch out the timeframe. Everything is clear. Who else is behind this except those who want instability in Pakistan!
A shocking news
Last three days already country is on standstill due to a religious dispute, killing of person like former Senator and Chief of his own faction Jamiat ul Islam, Maulana Sami Ul Haq, is killed in a terrorist attack at his home in Rawalpindi while taking rest.
His religious cum political party is an ally of ruling party of Prime Minister Imran Khan PTI in Pakistan.
So 3rd party took advantage of this chaos
Sad.
the corrupt martyred him. In Mullahs, he was a sane voice, open to reforms, rest in peace Sir. Clearly his death is planned to create violence in the state. Enemy schemes are a go. we must fight back.
Sad News. Does this country needs democracy???
This shOuldn't be happen On this stage.. Sad .. :'(
@Well wisher, Makes you wonder if this was done on purpose to achieve just that.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
Very sad news.
There are no good or bad religious extreme groups. Ban all of them.
People who are educated enough to read English news paper question why PM went to China to try his best to save country from economical melt down.
Education couldn’t bring a hint of common sense that PMs job is not to take a wand in hand and start beating agitating mob in public ? He is doing the right thing to save country from bigger disaster.
Enemies of Pakistan want IK to stop working on economy by triggering chaos in country and IK would be fool to fall in this trap.
Whole political lot , give and all law enforcement agencies are in Pakistan to take care of this situation
Makes one wonder if this was done on purpose to fuel the fire.
Very unfortunate and disturbing matter. He was a respectable religious scholar who had a love for his country. We must examine his assassination with thoughtful thinking about who could benefit from his elimination from the scene, at this critical juncture.
It has happened when peace talk with Taliban are under way. Try and link it with those who on face are the advocates of these talks but never want them to materialize.
This is in one way an attack over Imran Khan's stance to resolve issues with dialogue.
Scotland Yard should be hired to investigate his death and culprits apprehended.
Flight from isreal came, asia bibi released and this murder ?? That too wn IK is not in country?? Something suspicious
His driver was probably in on the assassination. That is usually how it works.
PAKISTAN under pressure from all sides. This protest must end.
This has been done to divert attention !
Very sad. So religious and opposition parties will rather destroy pakistan than let it be governed by at least some honest people. IK and his team are not on holiday they have gone to China with hope and plan that may help Pakistan to stave off a certain default to its international commitments. So those criticising I K should bear in mind and stop bad mouthing.
Military is the only solution to get rid of these thugs.
@Nand, ... Don't think so.
@Naveed Ahmad, FOREIGN AGENTS JOB IN MY OPINION
Pakistanio be cafeefull. This is the time to get united and be carful. Enemy’s of Pakistan are watting to exploit situations like this the harm Pakistan.
Inna lillahi wa inna Ilalahi rajayoon, Very unfortunate, tormenting a unsettling news at these very uncertain and difficult times. Those forces involved in this gruesome cold blooded murder, have seemingly done it to add fuel to fire to the ongoing agitation across the country. One can hope that sanity prevails and any untoward ugly situation does not develope due to this very sad and unsavory happening.
Very sad news. These are not good signs for a civilized society. My sincere condolences.
Sad news
@Phatti_Purani, well said
Very sad news, Im sure the path of the assassins will led to Kabul.
Indian action
Sad news
Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
@Ali Sabir, he was killed in his room
@Phatti_Purani, Just to remind you Taliban once were important allies of US and played a crucial role in defeating the Soviet Union. We need every help that we can get to stop bloodshed in the region and resolve issues politically.
Mulana's assasination during Taliban and US talks is a deep concern.
Local criminals being used by foreign and local mafia. Very obvious that the first doubt should go towards our neighbor (I.....a).
This is sad news, add more fuel to fire, enemies use this type prevailing of anarchy to create more anarchy, and chance for this anarchy was provided to enemies of Pakistan by no other than Mr. Rizvi.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon...RIP
Big loss!
Who is opposed to Taliban reconciliation & peace in Afghanistan???
Assasination is too strong of a word. Murdered and stabbed to death is more appropriate.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajayoon
saddened to learn the assassination of key religious leader.
Sad
A sad end. However, this matter must be traced and investigated carefully as this murder at this time it is likely to incite further violence by mullahs, it was certainly carried out with such a negative motive.
RIP, he is different from others, great efforts towards peace and talks
Very sad news. In Na Lilahi wa Ina Ilahi Rajayoon
Not good....it s sad n bad....
Indians at it again
Very sad, now there will be more trouble in already disturbed atmosphere....
Very sad, now there will be more trouble in already disturbed atmosphere....
Very sad
Only enemies of Pakistan, internal and external, can commit this heinous crime. Everyone knows that some of them are on the streets right now and others on either side of our borders. They should be dealt with an iron hand!
@Umair Karim, you hit the nail on the head. Everytime there is an attempt at peace in Afghan some important person dies.
International conspiracy angle should NOT be discounted.
We know which country is behind his murder and that country will pay a very heavy price in coming days
Afghani spy has murdered him
India behind this terror act
inside job clearly
Gunman / driver not available for few minutes..............
The assassins seem to belong to powers that do not want the Afghan war to end, want terrorism to continue, and want to perpetuate instability in Pakistan. Have a guess!
May his soul rest in peace.
@Phatti_Purani,
Indians are not invited here.
Country has lost a great scholar. He was an educated Islamic teacher of his seminary.His soul rest in peace
I could be wrong on this. But looking at recent events, either CIA or MOSSAD could be behind this - or could be both.
Not good for Pakistan. Killing is not the solution you all.
Stabbed in his own bed? No one saw anything? Driver was gone just for the time needed for murder? Gunman was gone just for the same amount of time needed to commit the deed? I dont know but this doesn't seem possible. There was no one else at home? How did they break into his house and his bed room commit the crime and vanish within 15 minutes? Family would be my first suspects.
@karachite, We are your neighbors! WE must look into the safety and well being of our neighbor, even though he does not understand what is safe and what is well?
@pervez, how about Taliban behind this
He was big rival of maulana Fazal ul Rehman.
sad news for all Pakistani,
I see Afghanistan behind his murder
@DR.Salaria,Aamir Ahmad, The same Scotland yard which cannot trace "money laundering" by Altaf Hussein and murderers of Dr. Imran farooq in london.
Everytime there looks like positive developments , someone murders key figures from Taliban side or an acceptable mediator. It doesn't take a genious to figure out who benefits from this and it isn't Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Inns lillahe wa in a elite rajjoon. Enemies of Pakistan will never win
Multiple stabs to face and chest sounds the motive is personal hate and revenge. Inside job probably from within his family or group.
Job from people who do not want peaceful resolution in Afghan.
Is this a revenge attack for killing Afghanistan police chief?
Who can kill him inside his residence other than some one who was close like family member or friend
@Israr Khan Ismailzai, look inside.
More tears
Does it appeal to logic? Maulana was in his room of his house all alone as his driver and security guard were away for about 15 minutes only and during the short period he has been killed instantly. Questions (a) How the killer knew that maulana is all alone in the house (b) How the killer knew which is his room as the house was not one roomed house? (c) How could he so quickly kill him and went out of the scene? To me it looks like that the killer was a stranger and instead must have been planted by someone anti to Maulana otherwise what could be the interest of the killer to commit such heinous crime which is punishable with death. I pray the departed the soul rests in peace and the killer is arrested to dig out the truth and all those who are directly or indirectly involved in the killing be punished. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
Serious talks between Taliban and US started last month!!!
Open and shut case of Suicide.
A day earlier, Fawad Chohardy, minister for information said: "stop what are you doing. otherwise, you wouldn't know what happens to you".
today, we don;t know what happened to molana
@karachite, thanks but no thanks .
@ajay, agree, it is suicide by stabbing himself 17times
Someone do not want peace in Afghanistan and PK