Afghan Taliban leaders reach out to Fazl, express condolences over cleric’s killing in Charsadda

ISLAMABAD: Senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban government on Friday contacted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express condolences over the killing of Sheikh Idris. According to the JUI-F media cell, Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid separately contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman. In the discussion with Maulana Fazl, the Afghan leadership expres­sed deep sorrow over the killing and prayed for the departed soul. Maulana Idris, a senior member of JUI-F was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda on May 5, while he was traveling to a madressah. As the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the killing the initial findings suggest the attack was planned in Afghanistan. JUI-F protesters in Islamabad demand immediate arrest of culprits They strongly condemned the assassination and said the people and leadership of Afghanistan equally share the grief of the Pakistani people over the killing. The Afghan leaders also conveyed solidarity with JUI-F and its student wing, saying they fully understand and share the pain and suffering of the party and religious students. The contacts come amid strong reactions from political and religious circles following the killing of Sheikh Idris, which has triggered condemnation and protest calls from JUI leadership across the country. Meanwhile, the JUI-F Islamabad chapter staged a protest demonstration against the killing. Led by JUI-F Islamabad emir Mufti Owais Aziz, a large number of party leaders and workers participated in the protest including JUI-F central spokesperson Aslam Ghauri, Sindh deputy chief Qari Usman, Punjab deputy secretary general Maulana Saeed Sarwar, emir Rawalpindi chapter Dr Ziaur Rehman and Mufti Abdullah. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the killing. Addressing the demonstrators, Aslam Ghauri said that until the kil