ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief and prominent religious scholar Maulana Samiul Haq was Friday assassinated at his residence in Rawalpindi. The former senator and an ally of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Maulana Samiul Haq, also known as ‘Father of the Taliban’, was alone at his house in Bahria Town when stabbed to death by unidentified assailant(s). Haq’s eldest son, Maulana Hamidul Haq, told media that his father had been ailing with heart problems and that he was in bed when the attacker(s) came. “His driver Haqqani had gone out. On his return, he found Maulana Sahib lying in a pool of blood in his bed,” he said, adding that his father was stabbed and probably shot as well. Maulana, 81, was rushed to Safari Hospital following the attack where he was pronounced dead on arrival. JUI-S spokesperson Maulana Ahmed Shah confirmed his death in the attack which took place in the jurisdiction of Airport police station. Hamid revealed that his father was receiving threats from the Afghan government. “He suffered from a heart disease and was inactive for the last three months. After three months of rest, today he had to mediate between protesters and authorities in Islamabad. However, he was unable to reach the venue due to road blockades and had returned home,” he said. JUI-S leader Maulana Abdul Majeed said there was no one present at the house when Haq was attacked. “We do not know who attacked him. He was alone … the person who was supposed to be with him had gone to the market,” he added. Maulana’s assassination shocked the entire nation as political leaders and religious scholars strongly condemned the high-profile killing, demanding that the government bring the culprits to justice. Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the murder and sought an immediate report on the deplorable incident, a PM Office statement said. He said by the death of Maulana Samiul Haq, Pakistan had become bereft of a great religious scholar and a renowned political leader. The prime minister said the religious as well as the political services of late Samiul Haq would be remembered forever. He also directed an immediate inquiry into the incident. State Minister for Interior Shehyar Afridi condemned the slaying in a statement and said he ‘shared the pain’ of his family. He said Haq’s religious and political service to the country would be long remembered. “I have great respect for Maulana Sami, and his death is a huge loss to Pakistan,” said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Born on December 18, 1937, in Akora Khattak, an area in the Nowshehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maulana Samiul Haq received his religious education from Darul Uloom Haqqania, the seminary founded by his father. He was the founder of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of politico-religious parties, and leader of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council. He had been twice elected to the Upper House of parliament. Published in Daily Times, November 3rd 2018.