Mufti Munir Shakir, the founder of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Islam, was killed in a blast in Pakistan’s Peshawar on Saturday.
The explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted outside a mosque, according to police officials.
Shakir and three others sustained injuries. He was taken to the Lady Reading Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed.
“The other injured were in stable condition,” Asim said.
Speaking to DotCapital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Qasim Ali Khan confirmed that no militant group has claimed responsibility. Initial findings suggest that Shakir was the intended target.
"We have collected evidence from the crime scene, and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police will further investigate the incident,” Khan said.
KP police collecting evidence from the blast site.KP Police
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and directed police officials to take immediate action in apprehending those responsible. He also ordered a detailed report on the incident.
Who was Mufti Munir Shakir?
Mufti Munir Shakir founded Lashkar-e-Islam in 2004 and gained notoriety in KP’s Khyber district after publicly challenging Pir Saifur Rehman, a cleric from the Barelvi school of thought. Their rivalry led to a prolonged sectarian violence in the region, forcing tribal elders to expel Shakir.
Although he withdrew from public view, Lashkar-e-Islam remained active under Mangal Bagh’s leadership until Bagh was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in 2021.
Shakir remained a divisive figure in Peshawar, frequently making public appearances with contentious religious statements. His views caused many scholars to distance themselves from him, and he reportedly faced multiple life threats.
Police sources said Mufti Shakir had been named in multiple terrorism-related FIRs.
