Funeral of 'Father of the Taliban' Held in Pakistan with Thousands in Attendance

Thousands attended the funeral of Maulana Sami ul-Haq, held in Nowshera, Pakistan, on Saturday. Sami ul-Haq is referred to as the 'Father of the Taliban in Afghanistan.' This 81-year-old cleric was stabbed to death at his home in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Friday. The funeral was conducted under heavy security measures, with the governor and other officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and political and religious leaders in attendance. Mr. Sami ul-Haq had run the Darul Uloom Haqqania Islamic school for several decades, where many Taliban leaders and key figures studied. Regional television networks reported statements from Hamid ul-Haq, the cleric's son, who said that his father was killed by unknown assailants with a knife. He stated, 'My father intended to go to Islamabad to participate in protests, but since the roads were blocked, he returned home and went to his bedroom. A few hours later, he was found in a pool of blood.' Pakistani police say the motive for the murder is still unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility. This incident incited supporters of Sami ul-Haq to riot in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, damaging shops and vehicles. Meanwhile, Sami ul-Haq's family urged his supporters to maintain peace in the city. Perhaps the most notable student of this cleric was Mullah Mohammad Omar, who later founded the Taliban in Afghanistan and managed to seize power there for a period. Sami ul-Haq was known as the father of this militant group due to his significant influence among Taliban leaders. He also served two terms in the Pakistani Senate. Pakistani media say he was an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in the recent elections, which won.