We appreciate the role Maulana Fazlur Rehman is playing in politics and can render sacrifices for the protection of the pious ulema,” said the spokesman of Gul Bahadur.—AFP photo

MIRAMSHAH: Hafiz Gul Bahadur, an influential militant commander in North Waziristan, has announced that investigation will be conducted into suicide  attacks on Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

He condemned the assassination attempts and said that motives behind the attacks were to create hatred against Muslims and jihad.

Gul Bahadur’s spokesman Ahmadullah Ahmadi in a written statement on Monday termed the attacks a conspiracy and said the culprits would be punished publicly.

“Shoora Mujahideen North Waziristan condemns the attacks and has started investigations to expose the conspiracies,” the statement released in Miramshah said.

“We appreciate the role Maulana Fazlur Rehman is playing in politics and can render sacrifices for the protection of the pious ulema,” the spokesman said.

On March 30, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up near the JUI-F workers waiting to receive Maulana Fazl at the Swabi Interchange, killing 12 people and injuring more than 20.

A day after, another bomber rammed his motorbike into a police van deployed for providing security to the Maulana who was going to Charsadda. Twelve people, including three policemen, were killed in the attack.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.