NOWSHERA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) has blamed foreign elements for the murder of its leader Maulana Samiul Haq.

“It is confirmed to thousands of his followers, the party, Darul Uloom Haqqania and his family that martyrdom of Maulana was not an internal issue rather Indians, Afghans and other elements are involved in this act,” said a statement issued by JUI-S here on Sunday.

Maulana Samiul Haq was stabbed to death at his home in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The statement said that some elements were trying to hide their incompetency by issuing different statements about the murder of JUI-S leader, terming it result of domestic dispute or sectarian issue.

The party appealed to security agencies to arrest the real killers of Maulana and award them exemplary punishment. It said that he always played key role in mediation between Taliban and other groups including Afghan government.

Demands exemplary punishment for killers

The statement said that a delegation of Afghan government had requested Maulana Samiul Haq in October to play role in talks between it with Taliban. They started propaganda against him and Darul Uloom Haqqania when they failed to persuade him, it alleged.

It said that the entire Muslim Umma was showing grief over his tragic death but Afghan media were trying to tarnish his image. It said that Maulana had friendly relations with all sects and groups despite having ideological and political differences with them.

Thousands of people including top political leaders reached Darul Uloom Haqqania on Sunday to condole the death of Maulana Samiul Haq and condemned his murder.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, QWP chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Irfan Sadique, retired General Ihsanullah, Senator Hafiz Hamdullah, Maulana Ahmad Ludyanwi, Sikandir Sherpao, Ilyas Bilour, Arab Alamgir Khan and others were prominent among the participants of condolence gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Asad Qaisar said that government would leave no stone unturned to arrest of the killers. He said that they had developed a close liaison with provincial government of Punjab and other investigative agencies to arrest the culprits.

Talking to journalists, Aftab Sherpao said that Maulana played great role for restoration of democracy in the country. He urged people to shun difference and forge unity among their rinks against the enemies of the country. He said that the country was passing through a critical time.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said on the occasion that Maulana Samiul Haq always tried to play his role for cordial relations among Muslim countries.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2018