SWABI: Mufti Sardar Ali Haqqani, a renowned religious scholar, was seriously injured in an attack on him here on Thursday.

District police officer Mohammad Shoaib Khan confirmed the incident.

Mufti Haqqani belongs to Wazirabad village of Nowshera district and is one of the most respected religious scholars in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He had come to deliver a sermon in Madressah Shamseya Darul-Tajweed, Manki.

A man attacked and injured Mufti Haqqani with a dagger when he along with other religious figures was crossing the entrance gate of the institution after delivering the sermon. He was taken to Bacha Khan Hospital Complex, Shahmansoor.

The injured Haqqani told police that during his sermon at the madressah he criticised the use of ice drug, urging the people to keep away their children from the menace. He said the man might have disliked this and targeted him.

The accused identified as Musa Khan of Manki village was rounded up by the people and handed over to police.

The Chota Lahor police registered an FIR and have started investigation.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2022