Suicide Bombing at Religious School in Pakistan’s Akora Khattak Kills Four, Including JUI-S Chief

February 28, 2025

By The South Asia Times

Peshawar, Pakistan – A powerful suicide bombing struck the Jamia Haqqania religious school in the Akora Khattak area of Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during Friday prayers, killing at least four people, including Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S).

Over 20 others were injured in the powerful explosion that ripped through the mosque inside the seminary, according to local police.

According to initial reports, the blast occurred as worshippers gathered for Jumma prayers. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with injured individuals crying for help amid the wreckage. Security forces and emergency responders rushed to the scene, shifting the wounded to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

Authorities have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, though no group has claimed responsibility yet. Law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Jamia Haqqania, one of Pakistan’s most well-known religious institutions, has a history of producing influential Islamic scholars. The attack on the seminary and the assassination of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq, has sent shockwaves through religious and political circles.

Security in the province has been heightened following the attack, with officials vowing to track down those responsible. The bombing highlights the persistent security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent months.

More details are expected as authorities continue their investigation.