Pakistan suicide blast: Deadly attack in Pakistan mosque claims 10 lives

Islamabad: A powerful explosion occurred in a mosque in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region during Friday prayers. Local sources confirm that the bomb explosion occurred at the Jamia Haqqania madrasa in northwestern Pakistan which killed ten people while causing injuries to multiple individuals.

 Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed issued verification  data

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed verified that ten deaths emerged while more than 12 individuals suffered serious injuries. Senior religious leader Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani has also been critically wounded in the explosion.

Hospital sources state that most of the injured brought to the hospital are in critical condition. According to an AP report, district police chief Abdul Rashid stated that the blast occurred in the Akora Khattak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack inside the Jamia Haqqania madrasa. However, it is suspected that the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) or its affiliate group Daesh could be behind the attack.

Suicide bomber's target was Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq

Preliminary information suggests that a suicide bomber was present in the mosque’s main hall during Friday prayers and detonated himself as soon as the prayers concluded. Hospital sources reiterate that most of the injured are in serious condition. Other sources from Akora Khattak indicate that more than 24 people were critically injured in the explosion. Initial investigations reveal that the suicide bomber's target was Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq, a senior leader of the religious-political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Sami-ul-Haq (JUI-S).

Bomb Explosion Before Ramadan

This bomb explosion took place on the last Friday before Ramadan. Based on the sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Saturday or Sunday.