PESHAWAR – Mufti Munir Shakir, the controversial religious scholar and founder of the banned militant group Lashkar-i-Islam (LI), was killed in a blast inside a mosque in Peshawar on Saturday evening.
The explosion occurred during Asr prayers at his mosque and madrassa in Mera Kachori in Urmar near Peshawar’s outskirts. The attack also injured three others — Khushhal, Abid, and Syed Nabi —who were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).
A Turbulent Rise: From Cleric to Militant Leader
Born in 1969, Mufti Munir Shakir’s early life is a subject of conflicting accounts. Official records list his birthplace as Karak district, but other sources claim he was born in Mokhi Zai village, Kurram Agency. His father, Maulvi Rahmatullah, was a teacher of Islamic studies and imam at a local school in Mokhi Zai, where Shakir received his early education.
His journey into religious scholarship took him to Karbogha Sharif in Hangu, where he was mentored by his cousin, Maulana Syed Mukhtaruddin Shah, a respected cleric. Later, he moved to Bara tehsil in Khyber tribal district, where his influence took a radical turn. In 2004, Mufti Munir Shakir founded Lashkar-i-Islam, an armed militant group, and began broadcasting his ideology through FM radio. Initially a Panjpiri Deobandi and a member of Ishaat-ul-Tawheed, he later broke away from both after ideological disputes.
Over time, he aligned himself with Ahl al-Quran, rejecting mainstream Sunni hadith collections, including Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. In his works, he argued that Iranian scholars inserted fabricated hadith into Sunni texts to alter Islam, asserting that the Quran alone was the foundation of true Islamic teachings.
Fierce Rivalry: The Battle of The Airwaves
Mufti Munir Shakir’s growing influence in Bara led to a violent feud with Pir Saif-ur-Rehman, an Afghan-born cleric who had settled in the area in the 1980s. In 2005, both men set up rival FM radio stations, using them to denounce each other’s beliefs. The conflict escalated into armed clashes, culminating in a major armed clash between Mufti Shakir and Pir Saif-ur-Rehman’s followers in March 2006.
The violence destabilized the region, prompting a tribal jirga to intervene. By September 2006, both clerics were expelled from Bara. Following his exile, Mangal Bagh took control of Lashkar-i-Islam, which was later banned in 2008. Mufti Shakir largely disappeared from public view. His father later claimed he was detained at Karachi airport and went missing for two years.
A Shift in Ideology: From Militancy to Activism
In his later years, Mufti Shakir abandoned many of his earlier religious stances. He became a vocal critic of state policies, military operations, and the treatment of Pashtuns. He actively supported the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), speaking out against state repression and counterterrorism measures in tribal areas. On 11 October 2024, he attended a Pashtun Jirga, where he delivered a fiery speech, condemning the government’s role in conflicts affecting the region. His transformation from militant leader to political dissenter marked a striking chapter in his life.
A Violent End in a Sacred Month
On 15 March 2025, during the holy month of Ramazan, Mufti Munir Shakir sustained critical injuries in a mosque explosion while performing Asr prayers. The attack took place at the entrance of his mosque and madrassa in Kachori. He later succumbed to his injuries in LRH.
His two sons, Abdul Rahman and Abdullah, now survive him, inheriting the legacy of a polarizing figure — once a militant leader, later an activist, and ultimately, a man who challenged both state power and religious orthodoxy.
Reaction and Aftermath
The assassination of Mufti Munir Shakir has drawn strong reactions from political and religious leaders. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur strongly condemned the attack. Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hamid vowed an investigation into the blast. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed sorrow over the loss. National Democratic Movement (NDM) chairman Mohsin Dawar called the killing a targeted attack on dissenting voices. Awami National Party (ANP) leader Senator Aimal Wali Khan criticized the deteriorating security situation. Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and Health Advisor Ahtisham Ali offered their condolences. Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leader Abdul Wasi termed the incident a tragic loss for religious scholars.
The circumstances of Mufti Munir Shakir’s death remain unclear. While authorities have launched an investigation, his supporters allege a targeted killing aimed at silencing a controversial yet influential figure.
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