A prominent Pakistani religious scholar and the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami Sami party Maulana Samiul Haq has been assassinated.

He was reportedly assassinated by unknown armed men in Rawalpindi city of Pakistan earlier this evening, his son Maulana Hamidul Haq confirmed.

Maulana Samiul Haq, who was also famous as the ‘Father of Taliban’ in Afghanistan, was stabbed to death in his residence.

“His driver Haqqani had gone out. On his return, he saw that Maulana Sami was lying in his bed in a pool of blood. He was no longer alive,” Maulana Hamid told a local media outlet.

Maulana Samiul Haq was also the leader the Darul Uloom Haqqania religious seminary and was openly supporting the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan.

Earlier reports had emerged suggesting that Maulana Samiul Haq was shot dead by gunmen riding a motorcycle.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility behind the assassination of Maulana Samiul Haq.