A period of public mourning has been declared following the assassination of the head of the Ummah Islam community in Pakistan, Maulana Samiul Haq.

Iran Press/Asia: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state announced public mourning, following the murder of Pakistan JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq on Saturday, according to an Iran Press report.

Maulana Samiul Haq was laid to rest on Saturday in Akora Khattak among thousands of people attending his funeral, including politicians, religious leaders, party workers and the general public.

Maulana Hamidul Haq, son of Maulana Samiul Haq, said his father was assassinated at home.

"My father could not join the protest in Islamabad due to road blockage and returned to his house for rest," he said.

"His driver went out for half an hour and when he returned, he found Maulana lying in a pool of blood," Hamidul Haq added.

President Arif Alvi expressed sorrow and grief over the murder of Maulana Samiul Haq, condemning this tragic incident. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently in China on an official visit, was informed about the incident. Issuing a statement from China; he strongly condemned the murder saying “the country has suffered a great loss”.

The prime minister also directed the authorities to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Pakistani Director General Inter Services Public Relations Asif Ghafoor and also many prominent political and military figures condemned the murder. The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Bajwa also condemned the assassination.

Maulana Samiul Haq was killed yesterday (Friday) in an unknown gun attack near his home in the city of Rawalpindi.

He was a Senate member for several times.

So far, no person or group has claimed responsibility for the assassination.

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