Munir Shakir (Urdu: منیر شاکر; 4 April 1969 – 15 March 2025) was a Pakistani militant, Islamic cleric and founder of the Deobandi jihadist group Lashkar-e-Islam. He later turned a strong critic of state oppression, injustices against Pashtuns, and the war on terrorism. He actively participated in Pashtun Tahafuz Movement gatherings, including the Pashtun Jirga.[1]
Shakir was killed by a bomb planted outside a Peshawar mosque on 15 March 2025.[2]
Radio ministry
Shakir became known after he moved to Bara tehsil, Khyber Agency, where he established an FM pirate radio station. Using this vehicle, he began to promote his religious beliefs, based in Deobandi theology. Among his more controversial pronouncements was his alleged statement that opium is halal, provided it is produced and used for medical purposes.[3][4]
Shakir worked in Kurram Agency until 2004, when he was ejected by tribal elders following a mosque bombing.[5]
Enmity with Pir Saifur Rahman
In 2005, Akhundzada Saif-ur-Rahman Mubarak, a supporter of the more moderate Hanafi school of Islam, established his own FM pirate radio station to compete with Shakir's station. Rivalry between the two clerics increased, causing tribal elders to denounce the two in December 2005 for fomenting sectarian tension. Both clerics then went into hiding, with Shakir handing control of his radio station and Lashkar-e-Islam organization to Mangal Bagh. The hostilities peaked around 29 March 2006, when "hundreds" of Shakir's followers gathered in the Badshahkili neighborhood of Bara tehsil to attack Rahman's followers.[6]
Role in Lashkar-e-Islam
In 2004, Shakir founded the organization Lashkar-e-Islam. Shortly thereafter, he was ejected from Bara Tehsil, and turned over control of the organization to local driver Mangal Bagh.[7] In 2008, the organization was banned.[8]
Death
On 15 March 2025, Munir Shakir was seriously injured in a bombing outside a Peshawar mosque. He died of his injuries at Lady Reading Hospital that same day. The attack took place outside his mosque and madrassa in Kechori, Urmar, Peshawar, during the Asr prayer. He was 55.[2]
References
- ^ "Mufti Munir Shakir: A Controversial Cleric's Ideological Journey". TNN - TRIBAL NEWS NETWORK. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Prominent Religious Scholar Mufti Munir Shakir Killed in Peshawar Blast".
- ^ Ghafar Ali Khan Pro-Taliban Group HQ Destroyed Near Peshawar Newsvine.com 29 May 2007.
- ^ According to the Indian Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Shakir's statements on opium were printed in the Indian Express of 22 January 2005
- ^ Shamim Shahid Call for action against gun-toting supporters of Pro-Taleban cleric Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Khaleej Times, 1 Apr 2006
- ^ Sonya Fatah FM Mullahs[usurped] Columbia Journalism Review August 2006
- ^ "Lashkar-i-Islam founder Mufti Shakir succumbs to injuries from Peshawar blast: hospital official". Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Sherazi, Zahir Shah (16 April 2014). "Militants threaten residents to vacate Peshawar neighbourhood". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
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