The University of Karachi has announced three days of mourning and suspended academic activities for two days (Credit: ucanews.com)
A Pakistani professor and journalist was killed in a drive-by shooting in the southern city of Karachi on Wednesday, the second suspected targeted killing in less than a week and the third shooting this month.
Waheed-ur-Rehman, 42, an assistant professor at the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Karachi, was attacked by four gunmen on two motorbikes in the Federal B Area of the metropolis.
He was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Doctors said Rehman was shot five times.
Muhammad Ejaz, a police superintendent, said the victim had no known dispute or personal enmity with anyone. “We have spoken to his colleagues, families and friends. They didn’t talk about any threat to Professor Waheed,” he said.
He said nine bullet casings were found at the crime scene.
Large numbers of students blocked the main road to the university Wednesday to protest the professor’s killing. The university also announced three days of mourning and suspended classes for two days.
Jamil Kazmi, head of a teachers’ welfare body, called for the immediate arrest of the killers and their backers.
“We know that they are mercenaries. Surely there are some people who want to silence the voice of the intelligentsia in this city and the country,” Kazmi told a press conference, adding that they were seeking compensation for the victim’s family as well.
Rehman was murdered five days after Sabeen Mahmud, a social activist, was gunned down shortly after hosting a panel discussion on rights abuses in insurgency-stricken Balochistan province.
Debra Lobo, an American citizen and Assistant Professor at Jinnah Medical and Dental College, was shot and wounded on April 16 by militants claiming to be members of Islamic State.
In September of last year, liberal scholar Shakil Auj, who was head of the Islamic Studies Faculty, was shot dead after being accused of blasphemy.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned Rehman's murder and called for the quick arrest of his killers, a PM Office statement said.
“The government is making sincere efforts to eliminate militant and criminal elements from Karachi. The situation in the metropolitan area will soon improve,” it said.