Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has announced a monetary reward for information about the unidentified suicide bomber responsible for the deadly attack on a Seminar in the Nowshera district.

Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq and the leader of his own fraction of Jamat Disadvantage Understanding, was among six victims who died in the suicide bomb in Darul Uloom Haqqania on Friday.

Another 18 people were injured when the bomber detonated explosives after the Friday prayer congregation.

A view of people gathered as the funeral of Jui-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani is held in Darul Uloom Haqqania. Photo courtesy: AP

On Saturday, thousands of mourners gathered for Haq’s funeral in Jamia Haqqania, the seminar, where he served as a head. The bomb that specifically targeted HAQ also killed six others.

Haq, son of Maulana Samiul Haq, who was murdered in 2018, was a prominent figure in Pakistan’s religious and political landscape. This bombing is part of a series of four attacks over Pakistan on the same day, two of which took place at mosques, which raised concern for the timing just before Ramadan.

A first information report (FIR) was filed by Haq’s son, Maulana Abdulhaq Sani, who was also injured in the attack. FIR, which has been filed with CTD’s Marran police station, includes charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with other sections of the Pakistan Poor Code.

Authorities have released a photograph of the alleged suicide bomber and offers a reward of RS500,000 (about $ 1,787) for information leading to the attacker’s identification. They seek details of the bomber’s name, parents and residence.

People mourn over the death of Jui-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, one of six victims killed in the suicide bombing in Darul Uloom Haqqania on Friday. Photo: AFP

A statement from the KP police assured that the identity of any informant would remain confidential. The public can contact the authorities through numbers 0315-9135456 and 091-9212591.

The Funeral Service for HAQ was held at the seminar, where grieving filled the main hall and spilled on the street. Thanks to a heavy police presence and the protection provided by seminar students, the prayers continued peacefully without any incidents.

Life of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani

Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, Deputy Head of Darul Uloom Haqqania and son of the late religious leader Maulana Samiul Haq, was born on May 26, 1968 in Akora Khattak.

He received his religious education in Darul Uloom Haqqania, the same institution in which his fatherly uncle, Maulana Anwar-Ul-Haq Haqqani, served as a head.

Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani’s grandfather, Maulana Abdul Haq Haqqani, was the founder of Jamaat-e-Ulema Pakistan, a prominent political figure and a former member of the National Assembly.

His father, Maulana Samiul Haq, was a member of the Senate and played an important role in the formation of new religious alliances in Pakistan.

A student from Darul Uloom Haqqania Seminary in Akora Khattak is seen leaving the institution on October 19, 2020. Photo: AFP

Hamidul Haq Haqqani was instrumental in the creation of United Majlis-E-Amal, a coalition of religious parties. In 2001, after the US invasion of Afghanistan, he founded Defense Afghanistan Council, which later developed into MMA, an important political alliance of religious groups.

In 2002, Hamidul Haq Haqqani was elected as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Nowshera, where he represented his constituency until 2007.

Following the tragic attack on his father in 2018, Hamidul Haq Haqqani took over the leadership of Jamiat Urage-e-Islam-Sami (Jui-S) and became Deputy Head of Darul Uloom Haqqania.