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. He was killed when four unidentified attackers riding two motorcycles opened fire on his car. The assailants managed to flee the scene soon after the attack. Dr Rahman had been working as a journalist for the past 15 years and was relatively a new staffer at the varsity. Earlier this month, the vice-principal of the Jinnah Medical and Dental College’s student affairs wing was shot and seriously injured on Shaheed-e-Millat Road in Karachi. In September last year, Prof Dr Muhammad Shakeel Auj, dean of the faculty of Islamic Studies at KU was shot dead on University Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.
It was the fifth incident when an academic shot dead in less than a month. Question arises that is it the response of ongoing military operation in Karachi or is it a new conspiracy against intellectuals of the country. Whatever the reasons are despite the success of operation in military, there is dire need to intensify the level of military operation.
President Mamnoon Hussain took notice of Dr Rahman’s murder and sought report into the incident from Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Taking notices and doing nothing has become a trend in our country. This infamous incident would be washed away from the memories of people and taking notice would not be good enough to bring the culprits to logical conclusion.
Culprits must be handed down punishments on an immediate basis and safety should be provided to the teachers and students in Karachi. Teachers are the constructer of the future of a prosperous society their safety must be the top most priority of the state.