PESHAWAR– Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s top police official has revealed that a single terrorist group, allegedly supported by the intelligence agencies of two foreign countries, was behind both the targeted killing of religious scholar Maulana Hamidul Haq and a failed assassination attempt on political and religious leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed shared the findings during an official briefing and confirmed that a detailed investigation report had been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The report includes intelligence assessments, forensic leads, and statements from arrested suspects.
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The suicide bombing that killed Maulana Hamidul Haq was carried out by a foreign national, police sources said. The attacker reportedly entered the madrassa from outside before detonating explosives. Authorities believe the attacker was affiliated with an international terrorist organisation that received backing from external intelligence entities.
Police said the same group also planned an attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Peshawar on 11 May. Law enforcement, acting on prior intelligence, arrested three out of four suicide bombers a day earlier. The fourth attacker, when stopped by police on Ring Road, blew himself up. No casualties other than the attacker were reported.
IGP Hameed stated that the investigation has successfully traced the group responsible for both plots and that efforts are ongoing to uncover any remaining operatives or facilitators. “We are probing the case from all angles,” he said.
Senior security officials confirmed that the two plots appeared to follow a coordinated strategy aimed at destabilising Pakistan’s religious leadership. However, no specific state actors were publicly named in the briefing.
In response to the findings, the provincial government has increased security for religious figures across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additional deployments and surveillance measures have been put in place to reduce the risk of future attacks.
Both Maulana Hamidul Haq and Maulana Fazlur Rehman are influential figures in Pakistan’s religious and political landscape. Maulana Hamidul Haq was a well-known Islamic scholar, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman leads the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), a major religious-political party.
Authorities have refrained from speculation and are relying on verified intelligence. The investigation remains ongoing, with further details expected as security agencies analyse data gathered from the suspects in custody and the site of the attacks.
While the case points to the involvement of external elements, police officials emphasised the importance of strengthening internal resilience and institutional coordination to prevent future attempts on public figures.
This development marks a significant step in counterterrorism investigations in the province, highlighting the evolving threats posed by transnational extremist groups operating within and across borders.
