JUI-F leader Qari Haq Nawaz gunned down in Charsadda

Police say the cleric was returning home after offering morning prayers when he was targeted

Religious scholar and leader of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) Qari Haq Nawaz was shot dead on Wednesday by unidentified armed men in Charsadda.

The cleric was returning home after offering morning prayers in a mosque when he was targeted, local police said. Nawaz was the founder of and a teacher at Jama-e-Muhammadia in Matta Mughal Khel area of Charsadda.

Immediately after the incident, the cleric's followers took to the streets and protested against his killing. The protesters also blocked a major road in the area.



Nawaz's funerals will be offered at 6:00pm today.

In February this year, chief of the local chapter of the Khatm-e-Nabuwat Movement (an anti-Ahmadi movement) and JUI-F leader Haji Kaleemullah was killed by unidentified motorcyclist near his home in Charsadda. Police officials termed the incident a case of targeted killing and said that  was killed near his home in the Prang area. They said that the JUI-F man was lured out of his home before being shot dead.