KU professor shot dead in Karachi’s FB area

KARACHI: An assistant professor of the University of Karachi was shot dead on Wednesday.

According to initial reports, unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle fired four shots at Dr Syed Wahidur Rahman in Karachi’s Federal B area. Rahman received bullet wounds in the face, head and chest. The 42-year-old professor was in his Suzuki Cultus in Block 16 of FB area when he was gunned down.

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Confirming that Rahman – popularly known as Yasir Rizvi – was not Shia, police said the murder could be a case of mistaken identity and hence sectarian killing.

In a bid to investigate the murder from all angles, the police are also looking if Rahman’s killing has links with Dr Shakil Auj’s murder as the two professors were close associates.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the killing and asked for an inquiry report from IG Sindh. Educational activities at the university were suspended after the killing.

A copy of the professor’s ID card. PHOTO: NOMAN AHMED/ EXPRESS

Rahman, an assistant professor at KU’s Mass Communication department, was a resident of Latif Square in FB area.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, KU Assistant Professor Inam Bari said Rahman had been working at the university for the last three years.

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The deceased had completed his master’s and PhD from Federal Urdu University and worked there as a teacher until he moved to KU. The university’s vice chancellor had appointed Rahman as his media adviser and had written for the Daily Ummat for 12 years.

Bullet casings recovered from the scene of the crime indicate that a 9mm pistol was used.

In September last year Dr Shakil Auj, dean of the Islamic Studies Faculty of the university, was killed in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city.