At least three people were killed and two others injured in a suicide attack targeting former Afghan Jihadi leader Haji Hayatullah on Pachaggi Road of Peshawar on Friday.
Hayat survived the attack, but the dead included his driver and a personal bodyguard.
Police said a suicide bomber exploded himself when Hayat’s vehicle reached the main gate of Jamia Uloomul Islamia on Pachaggi Road.
The massive explosion heard all across Peshawar and the cantonment area.
Hayat’s vehicle was completely destroyed in the attack. Those killed included Hadiur Rahman and Abdul Hadi, Hayat’s driver and bodyguard.
The identity of the third deceased was yet to be ascertained. However, police claimed said that he was a passer-by.
Assistant Inspector General (Bomb Disposal Squad) Shafqat Malik said the attack was a suicide bombing carried out by a boy aged 17-18 years, adding that around 10 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the attack.
This was the second attempt on the life of Hayat. About Four years ago, he had survived a similar IED attack.
Belonging to the Kunar province of Afghanistan, Hayat is nephew of late Maulvi Jamilur Rahman, chief of Jamatul Dawa Illal Quran Wa Sunnah.
Jamil was shot dead by unknown persons in Khar area of Bajaur Agency in 1992. Later, Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan was blamed for the killing.
After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, Hayat joined the Council for Understanding and National Unity of Afghanistan commonly known as Shura–e-Tafahum Afghanistan.
He served the council as its chief for more than four years.
Hayat and his family initially welcomed President Karzai’s government, but later opposed the regime when Hayat’s cousin Roohullah was apprehended by US officials in 2004 and locked in GuantanamoBay prison.
Hayat and almost all his family members have been neutral for the past several years, although Hayat has favoured an early pullout of US-led allied troops from Afghanistan.
