Senior members of the Afghan Taliban administration extended their sympathies to Maulana Fazlur Rehman following the assassination of senior JUI-F leader Sheikh Idris in Charsadda. On Friday, Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid each contacted the JUI-F chief to convey their condolences.
These Afghan officials strongly condemned the killing and expressed solidarity with the JUI-F party and its student wing. They emphasized that the people of Afghanistan share in the grief experienced by Pakistan over the loss of the cleric, offering prayers for the departed and his family.
Sheikh Idris, a prominent figure within Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, was fatally shot on May 5 when unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire on him in the Utmanzai area while he was en route to a seminary. The Islamic State Khorasan Province later claimed responsibility for the attack, and early investigations indicated that the conspiracy may have originated from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad chapter of JUI-F organized a protest demanding the swift arrest of those responsible. The demonstration, led by Mufti Owais Aziz, saw participation from numerous party leaders and workers.
Addressing the crowd, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri criticized the government and security agencies for repeated lapses in maintaining public safety. He vowed that the party would persist with its protests until justice is served.
The killing has provoked strong reactions across political and religious communities, prompting JUI-F to announce further demonstrations in several cities nationwide.
