Teachers, students protest on campus against alleged assault of Islamic Learning Department chairman
KARACHI:
Two more suspects were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged assault of University of Karachi’s Islamic Learning Department Chairman Dr Arif Khan Saqi, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to five.
The latest suspects were identified as security guards Gul Sher and Taj Muhammad. Three other suspects — hotel employees Shaukat Ali, Imran Ali and Ghulam Umar — were arrested on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Tuesday after a minor road collision near Safoora Chowrangi reportedly escalated into a violent confrontation. The son of a restaurant owner, along with armed security guards, allegedly assaulted Dr Saqi and his nephew, beat them with pistol butts, dragged them into a restaurant and detained them.
Sachal police said raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects involved in the incident.
The restaurant owner’s son, identified as the main suspect in the alleged assault, had not been arrested by Wednesday.
The case was registered at Sachal Police Station on Tuesday on Dr Saqi’s complaint, with the restaurant owner’s son named as a suspect in the first information report. The suspects were booked under provisions relating to assault, harassment and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, teachers and students held a protest at the University of Karachi against the alleged assault of Dr Saqi on Wednesday.
A large number of faculty members and students participated in the rally and demanded action against those responsible for the incident.
The protesters called for justice for the professor and chanted slogans in support of their demands.
Minor accident leads to assault
The incident occurred near Sindh Green Restaurant around 10:15am when Dr Saqi, travelling to the university with his nephew and driver Muhammad Waheed, was allegedly involved in a dispute after a double-cabin vehicle reversing out of the restaurant struck the bonnet of their car.
According to Dr Saqi’s statement recorded with police and a video statement that surfaced after the incident, he stopped after the security guard signalled him to do so and asked the occupants of the double-cabin to compensate the young driver whose car had been damaged.
He alleged that the restaurant owner’s son, identified in the FIR as a suspect named Konein, then emerged carrying a weapon and opened aerial fire before he and his guards began beating him and his nephew with pistol butts.
Dr Saqi alleged that two armed guards joined the assault, repeatedly striking the victims on their heads and chests with their weapons, while three to four other unidentified men also joined in. He and his nephew allegedly fell to the ground after sustaining injuries.
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The attackers then allegedly dragged the two men inside the Sindh Green Restaurant, where they were held against their will and subjected to further assault, according to the professor’s statement. Their mobile phones were also allegedly taken but were later returned.
Dr Saqi said Malir Cantonment police personnel rescued them and took them to Sachal police station. The police registered FIR No 1412 of 2026 on the professor’s complaint under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324 and 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complainant also alleged that the suspects took away their car after the assault.
Sachal SHO Ejaz Pathan confirmed that the incident followed a dispute over a vehicle collision and said the professor was allegedly assaulted by the restaurant owner’s son’s guards during the altercation.
Meanwhile, the Association of Teachers of Karachi University strongly condemned the alleged assault and illegal confinement of Dr Saqi. Joint Secretary Dr Sheikh Muhammad Zeeshan Iqbal said the dignity, respect and protection of teachers must be guaranteed in any civilised society.
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He urged the authorities to take strict action against everyone involved, saying teachers were increasingly becoming a vulnerable segment of society.
Taking notice of the incident, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar contacted the SSP District East and sought a report on the incident and the legal action taken.
He said teachers were a respected segment of society and that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands or humiliate or mistreat a teacher. He directed that indiscriminate legal action be taken against those involved and assured that Sindh Police would provide every possible legal and security assistance to teachers.
According to the home minister’s spokesperson, the SSP District East briefed him that three suspects allegedly involved in the incident had been taken into police custody and legal proceedings were under way.
With additional reporting by Ayesha Khan.
