Prominent Pakistani Cleric Maulana Muhammad Idris Killed in Targeted Attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Maulana Muhammad Idris, a prominent Pakistani religious scholar and senior teacher at Darul Uloom Haqqania, was killed in a targeted armed attack on Tuesday in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to local authorities, assailants opened fire on the cleric’s vehicle. Two police officers accompanying him sustained injuries during the incident. No armed group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and security forces have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued a formal statement condemning the assassination, describing the act as the work of enemies of Islam and an irreparable loss to the country’s religious and academic communities. Afghan officials expressed condolences to the scholar’s family and students, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious figures.

Senior Pakistani leadership, including the prime minister, president, and the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also strongly denounced the violence. They pledged to bring those responsible to justice and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to maintaining security and stability in the region.

The attack has reignited concerns regarding the safety of religious figures and security conditions in northwestern Pakistan. Darul Uloom Haqqania, where the slain cleric served as a senior instructor, is one of the country’s most prominent Islamic seminaries and has historically played a significant role in religious education. Authorities have not released further details regarding the investigation or the identities of the suspects.