ISLAMABAD: Jamiat-e-Ulma-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Sami ul Haq was shot dead in a targeted attack in Rawalpindi on Friday. As per the details, Maulana Samiul Haq sustained injuries in a targeted attack (stabbed to death) at his house in a private housing society in Islamabad (Bahria Town). Hamidul Haq, the son of the JUI-S chief, said his father was stabbed to death while he was resting in his room. Maulana Sami was a heart patient, Hamid said.
He said Maulana Sami ul Haq’s driver and gunman were not present at the residence when he was stabbed and added that when a servant returned his saw that Maulana Sami was lying in his bed in a pool of bed. He was no longer alive. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Sources say that a security guard of the deceased cleric was critically wounded. The attack took place in the jurisdiction of Lohi Bhir police station near Islamabad on Friday evening. Maulana Sami-ul-Haq comes from the spiritual family of Akora Khattak where he was born in 1936.
A holder of Sanad-e-Fazilat-o-Faraghat and Sanad Daura Fafseer-e-Quran from Darul Aloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak and Sheik-ul-Hadith (Honorary) of Deo Band, Maulana Sahib imparted religious education at his almamater, to the students and holds important positions in the academic and administrative staff of the Darul Aloom.
As a member of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, he conducted, with success, the election campaign for his father Maulana Abdul Haq in 1970, 1977 and 1985 and assisted him in carrying out his obligations as a Member of the National Assembly.
He was an active protagonist of Tahreek-i-Khatam-e-Nabowat in 1974 and Tahreek-i-Nizam-i-Mustafa in 1977. He was a member of the Majlis-i-Shoora in 1983-85 and was a member of the Presidential Committee on religious matters. Maulana Sami ul Haq was the chancellor of Dar ul Uloom Haqqania based in Peshawar.
He was elected to the Senate in 1985-1991 and was one of the principal movers of the historic Shariat Bill in the Senate. He was re-elected as Senator in 1991-1997 for another six year term. “Maulana Sami ul Haq has been assassinated. Small protests have erupted in Aabpara chowk. Everyone is advised to please stay at home for a while. We will take control of the situation in a while,” Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad tweeted.
President Dr. Arif Alvi has expressed sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. Condemning the tragic incident, he expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. The President paid tributes to Maulana Sami-ul-Haq s religious, social and political services. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has condemned the assassination of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq and sought report from the Inspector General of Punjab police. He vowed that the culprits would soon be behind the bars. Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi has also condemned the assasination. In a statement, he said Maulana Sami-ul-Haq s political and religous services will be remembered.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif and party president Shehbaz Sharif have also condemned Haq’s assassination.
JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the assassination of Maulana Sami ul Haq. “I myself was a student of Darul Haqqani for eight years. I extend my condolences to his relatives,” Fazl said. Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Naeemul Haq has strongly condemned the killing of Maulana Sami ul Haq. “The martyrdom of Maulana Samiul Haq is a big tragedy,” he said, adding that Maulana had met Prime Minister Imran Khan 15 days ago as part of government’s efforts to introduce modern education in seminaries.
He recalled that Maulana Sami ul Haq was one of the few clerics who had openly supported the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in running polio eradication campaign. Former Interior Minister and PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal took to Twitter to condemn the killing. “Terrible news – Assassination of Maulana Sami ul Haq is very tragic – May Allah Bless his soul Ameen!,” he writes.
Another PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique tweeted, “Assassination of Maulana Sami Ul Haq was an attack on stability and integrity of Pakistan.” NNI