Key Points:
- Bomb explosion at mosque in South Waziristan during Friday prayers
- JUI-F district chief Abdullah Nadeem seriously injured; three others hurt
- Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in mosque pulpit
- No group claims responsibility yet; investigation underway
- Recent surge in mosque attacks across Pakistan raises security concerns
Islamabad: A powerful bomb explosion ripped through a mosque in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, during Friday prayers on March 14, 2025, leaving four people injured, including a prominent local Islamist leader.
According to District Police Officer (DPO) Asif Bahadar, the blast occurred at approximately 1:45 pm local time at the Maulana Abdul Aziz Mosque located on Azam Warsak Bypass Road. Authorities confirmed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) had been strategically planted inside the mosque’s pulpit, detonating during the crowded Friday congregation.
The primary target of the attack appeared to be Maulana Abdullah Nadeem, the district chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). Nadeem sustained serious injuries and was immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital for urgent medical attention. Three other individuals associated with JUI-F identified as Rehmanullah, Mullah Noor, and Shah Behran also suffered minor injuries and received prompt medical care.
Police teams swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and collect forensic evidence. DPO Bahadar stated that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for this attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing yet.
District Police Spokesman Habib Islam revealed that Maulana Abdullah Nadeem had previously received multiple death threats and survived another attack approximately seven months ago. The repeated targeting of religious leaders and mosques has raised serious concerns about security arrangements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In response to the incident, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that such violence violates the sanctity of places of worship, particularly during the holy month of Ramzan. He urged government authorities to transparently brief citizens about ongoing security threats and demanded immediate action to address rising militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
This latest bombing adds to a troubling pattern of escalating violence targeting mosques and religious institutions across Pakistan’s northwest region. Just last month, a suicide bomber attacked Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Nowshera district, killing six individuals including JUI-S leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani and injuring 15 others.
Earlier incidents have also underscored the vulnerability of religious gatherings. On January 30, 2023, a devastating suicide bombing inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines area killed at least 101 people primarily police officers and injured over 150 worshippers. The incident marked one of Pakistan’s deadliest terror attacks in recent years.
Security forces remain on high alert as authorities intensify efforts to curb growing militancy and protect vulnerable communities from further attacks.
