Maulana Sami ul Haq stabbed to death in Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) chief Maulana Sami ul Haq has been stabbed to death at his residence in Rawalpindi, family says.
Maulana Hami ul Haq, son of Maulana Sami ul Haq, confirmed that his father was assassinated.
"My father could not join the protest in Islamabad due to road blockage and returned to his house for rest," he said. "His driver went out for half an hour and when he returned, he found Maulana lying in a pool of blood," he said.
Maulana's body was shifted to DHQ Hospital for medico-legal formalities.
Speaking to Geo News, Maulana Haseem, a central leader of the JUI-S, confirmed the death of Maulana Sami ul Haq in the knife attack.
The news of his death comes at a time when religious groups are staging nationwide protest against the Supreme Court's acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, in a blasphemy case.
Maulana had recently been aligned with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
Maulana Sami ul Haq was the chancellor of Dar ul Uloom Haqqania based in Peshawar.
Senior journalist Salim Safi described the death of Maulana Sami ul Haq as a big tragedy for the country.
Maulana Sami ul Haq was member of the Senate of Pakistan from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.
Speaking to Geo, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the assassination of Maulana Sami ul Haq.
"I myself was a student of Darul Haqqani for eight years. I extend my condolences to his relatives ," Rehman said.
Naeem ul Haq, special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, strongly condemned the killing of Maulana Sami ul Haq.
"The martyrdom of Maulana is a big tragedy," he said, adding that Maulana had met Prime Minister Imran Khan 15 days ago as part of government's efforts to introduce modern education in seminaries.
He recalled that Maulana Sami ul Haq was one of the few clerics who had openly supported the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in running polio eradication campaign.