Pakistan: Funeral for Maulana Sami ul-Haq November 3 /update 1

Event

The funeral for the assassinated leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) political party, Maulana Sami ul-Haq, was held in his hometown of Akora Khattak on Saturday, November 3. Thousands of people attended the ceremony at his seminary, Darul Uloom Haqqania. An investigation into his murder is ongoing and no group has claimed responsibility as of Saturday evening (local time). Associated demonstrations or other unrest are possible in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Maulana Sami ul-Haq was reportedly stabbed to death at his home in Rawalpindi on the evening of November 2. He was a former senator and religious scholar, and was described as the "Father of the Taliban" because of his links to late Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and other Taliban members that studied at his Deobandi Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom Haqqania.

Haq’s death comes amid already high social tensions and significant unrest in Pakistan following the recent acquittal of a Christian woman previously sentenced to death on blasphemy charges. Islamist groups, notably including Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), have staged protests and acts of civil disobedience nationwide since October 31, resulting in clashes with security forces, roadblocks, large demonstrations, and rail and flight disruptions across the country. The groups signed an agreement on November 2 to end the demonstrations, but tensions remain high.

Advice

Individuals in Pakistan, particularly those in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, are advised to closely monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.