‘Father of the Taliban’ Assassinated in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi

Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) who was also known as the ‘Father of the Taliban’, assassinated at his residence in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi on Friday, Geo News reported.

Haq’s his family and party officials confirmed to Geo News that the senior religious scholar and former senator was “stabbed multiple times”.

“He was trying to reach the protest in Islamabad but came back home due to roads being blocked. He was resting in his room during Asr time when his driver-cum-guard went out for 15 minutes,” Haq’s son Maulana Hamidul Haq told Geo News. 

“When he returned, he found Maulana Samiul Haq dead in his bed and his body covered in blood.”

Hamid added that his father had been “stabbed multiple times.”

JUI-S leader Maulana Abdul Majeed said there was no one present at the residence when Haq was killed. “We do not know who attacked him. He was alone, the person who was supposed to be with him had gone to the market,” Majeed said.

Haq was a senior religio-political figure who had twice been elected as a senator. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from 1985 to 1991 and again from 1991 to 1997.