KARACHI: Assailants on Wednesday shot dead an assistant professor of the University of Karachi (KU) in Federal B area.
Dr Syed Wahidur Rahman, also known as Yasir Rizvi, was an instructor at the Karachi University's Mass Communication department.
Professor Wahidur Rahman's identification card identifies him as an assistant professor. —DawnNews screengrab
Professor Wahidur Rahman's identification card identifies him as an assistant professor. —DawnNews screengrab
Although DIG West police Feroze Shah told Dawn that the slain professor belongs to the Shia community, Dr Rahman's colleagues at KU, on condition of anonymity, said it is not clear whether he belonged to the Shia sect.
Professor Wahidur Rahman was killed when four unidentified attackers riding two motorcycles opened fire on his car. —DawnNews screengrab
Professor Wahidur Rahman was killed when four unidentified attackers riding two motorcycles opened fire on his car. —DawnNews screengrab
He was killed when four unidentified attackers riding two motorcycles opened fire on his car.
—DawnNews screengrab
—DawnNews screengrab
Police surgeon Dr Jalil Qadir said Dr Rahman received five bullets wounds on his face, neck, chest, abdomen and arm while police reportedly recovered eight bullet cases from the site.
The assailants managed to flee the scene soon after the attack.
Dr Rahman's body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in Karachi.
Dr Rafia Taj, former chairperson of the Mass Communication department, told Dawn.com that the slain assistant professor was an active member of the faculty.
She also said his death is a "great loss for the department" and that he was a kind and polite person.
A KU professor who requested anonymity told Dawn.com that Dr Rahman had been working as a journalist for the past 15 years and was relatively a new staffer at the varsity.
"He was a very dedicated and honest teacher and it’s possible that his killing might be related to the recent killings of teachers at KU and NED," the professor said.
Regarding speculation that Dr Rahman’s killing is linked to KU’s scheduled talk on Balochistan "Baloch Missing Persons and the Role of State & Society", the professor said, “He was in no way related to the ‘Unsilencing Balochistan Take 3’ to be held on May 6 at University of Karachi".
In the wake of Dr Rehman's death, university activities have been suspended for two days.
Soon after the news of his death broke, students and teachers rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.