Deadly Blast Rocks Mosque During Friday Prayers, Five Killed

Pakistan (The Uttam Hindu): A powerful bomb explosion inside a mosque at a pro-Taliban seminary in northwestern Pakistan claimed the lives of at least five worshippers and left dozens injured during Friday prayers. The blast occurred in Akkora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, inside Jamia Haqqania, a seminary known for its links to the Afghan Taliban. The attack came just ahead of Ramadan, the holy month set to begin this weekend. Authorities have declared an emergency in the nearby Nowshera district as rescue and investigation efforts continue.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed, initial findings suggest that it was a suicide bombing. Police officials also believe that Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S (JUI-S) and son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq, was the target of the attack. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion so far. The blast struck the main hall of the seminary while worshippers were gathered for prayers, leading to widespread panic.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, stating that such cowardly acts of terrorism will not weaken the country's fight against extremism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminating terrorism. Security forces have launched an investigation into the attack, while medical teams continue to treat the injured.