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By Mushtaq Yusufzai and Ethan Sacks
The Muslim cleric dubbed the "father of the Taliban" because of his close ties with the leaders of the terrorist group was killed Friday in Pakistan, said two family members at NBC News.
The bloody body of Maulana Samiul Haq was discovered at his home in the city of Rawalpindi, although reports differ as to whether he was shot dead or stabbed to death.
"It seems like an organized attack, knowing that Maulana Samiul Haq was alone in the house," said Mohammad Bilal, a nephew, who added that the killing took place during a window while the bodyguard of his Uncle had briefly left his post.
"We do not know the number of assailants yet, but according to my uncle's body, they apparently have severely tortured him before committing suicide."
As a director and director of Darul Uloom Haqqania University, Haq would have produced thousands of future Taliban members.
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Mullah Mohammed Omar was among his many students in the 1980s. He seized the opportunity, after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, to found the Taliban movement at the end of this decade. Haq had regularly called Omar one of his best students.
"These are my students. According to our tradition, a teacher is like a father, like a spiritual leader, "Haq told Reuters in 2013." Afghans should be allowed to fight for their freedom. Foreign powers should go out and let them do what they want.
Haq maintained great influence over the Taliban and was courted by Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhiwal, with the aim of reviving peace talks with the group.
Maulana Hamidul Haq, the cleric's eldest son, told NBC News that his father had received no threats before the attack.
On Friday, hundreds of people in mourning, including madrasa students, took to the streets to protest the killing of Haq. The assassination comes at a time when the Islamic extremist community in Pakistan was already feeling enormous tension because of the Supreme Court's decision to acquit Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid mourned Haq's death. "Those who were behind his assassination were in reality the enemies of Islam," he said.
Mushtaq Yusufzai reported to Peshawar, Ethan Sacks reported in New York.
