Influential cleric killed in Peshawar grenade attack

String of attacks on multiple police stations in southern K-P repulsed

PESHAWAR:

A local cleric was killed in a grenade attack on the outskirts of Peshawar on Saturday, the day terrorists unleashed a string of attacks in southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa targeting police stations and checkpoints.

Mufti Munir Shakir, the founder of now banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) militant group, was attacked with a hand grenade near his mosque in Peshawar's suburban Urmar area.

Mufti Shakir and three others – identified as Khushal, Abid and Syed Nabi – were injured in the attack. They were driven to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), where the cleric succumbed to his injuries. Officials said police were gathering evidence from the site and launched an investigation. Mufti Munir Shakir was a local celebrity quite active on social media.

"Mufti Shakir was brought to LRH in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries," Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for the hospital, confirmed in a video message.

Provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur denounced the deadly grenade attack and sought a report from police on the incident. He directed the police to carry out the "necessary steps" to arrest the culprits and expressed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Mufti Shakir, a resident of Bara in Khyber tribal district, formed the LeI in December 2004 after some local tribesmen swore allegiance to him. However, he was expelled from the area due to his extremist views and differences with Haji Namdar, founder of Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar group. Later Mangal Bagh took over the LeI, which was banned in 2008. The LeI has since found sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The fatal attack came amid a disturbing surge in attacks on clerics and religious scholars in K-P. A day earlier JUI-F district chief in South Waziristan Abdullah Nadeem was injured in an IED attack. The bomb, planted in the pulpit of Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque on Azam Warsak Bypass Road, was remotely detonated, injuring the cleric and three others.

Last month, a suicide bombing at a mosque located inside the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Akora Khattak killed JUI-S chief Maulana Hamidul Haq and five other people.

Meanwhile, police fought off two terrorist attacks on Dadiwala and Pezu police stations in Lakki Marwat district late Friday night. According to officials, heavily armed terrorists launched attacks on both stations but police, retaliated with full force, forcing the attackers to flee. No casualties were reported in either incident.

Separately, an IED explosion targeted a police vehicle on Landi Wah Road also in Lakki Marwat. The driver and a constable sustained minor injuries in the attack. One attacker was killed in the retaliatory action. Police launched a manhunt for the other attackers.

In other violence, terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on multiple police stations and three security forts in Tank district. According to reports, terrorists targeted Kot Murtaza Post, FC Fort Sur Kamar, FC Fort Murtaza, and Gomal police station. The intense gunfire and explosions created panic among the local population.

One security official, identified as Havildar Muhammad Arif, sustained injuries during the attack. However, police and security forces successfully repelled the attackers, preventing any damage.

Terrorists also launched in-sync attacks on Baka Khel and Ghori Wala police stations, as well as Khejri police checkpost in Bannu district. However, due to the alert response of police, all three attacks were thwarted. No casualties were reported, and the terrorists were forced to flee.