Fazl says murdering Muslims ‘not jihad’ at Haqqania.

PESHAWAR: Visiting the Darul Uloom Haqqania a week after it was rocked by a devastating suicide bombing, Maulana Fazlur Rehman delivered a furious address condemning the assassination of Muslims and religious experts as “militancy, not jihad.”

Speaking to seminary students at the Akora Khattak institute, the leader of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) questioned if gambling with the lives of innocent Muslims could be considered ‘jihad’.

He stated that taking up guns against Muslims and religious experts may be the product of a personal vengeance, myopia, or a conspiracy, but it could not be considered ‘jihad’ under any circumstances. “It’s terrorism,” he continued.

“You are murderers, ruthless criminals.” “Why are you deceiving yourself?” the Maulana questioned the affiliates of banned groups.

JUI-S leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani was among six people killed in a suicide attack at a seminary in Nowshera on February 8. According to authorities, the suicide bomber targeted the JUI-S leader as he was heading for home following Friday prayers.