IEA condemns blast inside Haqqania seminary

KABUL (Pajhwok): The interim Afghanistan government has condemned Friday’s explosion at the Haqqania Madrasa in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

On Friday, an explosion occurred during Friday prayers at the Haqqania Madrasa in Akora Khattak, killing at least four people, including the head of the madrasa, Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, and injuring about ten others.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, in a statement said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this attack on the late Maulana Sahib Hamidul Haq Haqqani; we consider his martyrdom a great loss for the scholarly circles.”

The Islamic Emirate also extends its condolences to the families of the victims, he said.

At least four people, including JUI-S leader Haqqani, were killed and 20 others injured in the blast that tore through the main prayer hall of the seminary as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.

Dawn quoted KP Police Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed as saying: “It was a suicide blast. Three policemen were also injured in the attack.”

The KP government declared an emergency in all hospitals and health facilities across Peshawar, about 70km away from Nowshera by road.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an immediate report on the incident and directed officials to “provide the best medical facilities” to the wounded.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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