KARACHI: Religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani escaped unharmed after a man pulled a knife on him at his Jamia Darul Uloom in the wee hours of Thursday.
Usmani, who is the vice president of the seminary, while confirming the incident, said that the suspect approached him after Fajr prayer saying he wanted to speak to him separately, Dawn reported, citing an audio message from the cleric.
The cleric said that he had just gotten up to meet with the suspect when he brandished the knife. “Those around me quickly caught him,” he said, adding that he was not harmed.
“An investigation is underway to determine the facts and the suspect’s motive,” he said.
However, reports citing eyewitnesses and sources said the suspect was intercepted by the cleric’s security on suspicion before he could approach him.
An earlier statement issued by the Awami Colony police station said that the suspect, identified as one Asim Laik, came to the seminary during Fajr to meet the cleric “for a prayer”.
When security detail searched him, they recovered a “dagger” from his possession, the police statement said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Korangi Shah Jehan Khan said: “The suspect has been taken into custody, we are continuing with further investigation into the incident.”
Following the incident, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed called Usmani to inquire after his health. In a tweet, Rasheed said he was “deeply concerned” over the “attack”.
“Mufti Taqi Usmani is an eminent scholar and the pride of Islam. I pray for his life,” he said.
