Six arrested for harassing IBA students at Karachi University

KU security adviser says varsity staffers' sons among the suspects

KARACHI:

The Mobina Town police arrested six suspects accused of harassment after the University of Karachi (KU) administration and the complainant identified them on Thursday.

On October 5, two students of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) were leaving the KU premises after having dropped off their friend at the IBA girls hostel. Syed Shaheer Ali and his friend were headed towards KU's Maskan gate when around 10 boys, seemingly between the ages of 15 to 25 years, on four motorcycles surrounded their car, hollering at them to get out of the vehicle. A terrified Shaheer hit the accelerator and for a second it seemed that they were safe.

Narrating these events in a Facebook post, Shaheer said that as the car reached near the IBA boys hostel, the motorcyclists appeared again and began banging on the car's window. "Get the girl out," they were screaming, recounted Shaheer, adding that his female friend was in a complete state of shock.

"They had just one intention, and if they had been successful to get inside the car, they would have beaten me and thrown me aside, and then...You all know what would have happened with the girl. Somehow I managed to escape, pushing my car to the limits," wrote Shaheer on Facebook.

The students informed the guards at the varsity's Maskan gate, and also told the IBA management of the incident.

The purpose of recounting this incident on social media, wrote Shaheer, was to alert all others to remain cautious and safe. He and his friend, he said, were both traumatised by the events.

Shaheer's post went viral on Wednesday, compelling the administrations of both varsities to take action.

According to KU security adviser Dr Moiz Khan, the incident occurred on Monday and the KU administration received the complaint on Wednesday.

The suspects are between 16 to 20 years old and the sons of KU staffers, he said, adding that the complainants have been called to identify them. The administrations of KU, IBA and the Rangers are in coordination over the matter, and the police have also been informed, he said.

Later, Dr Khan confirmed that six suspects were handed over to the police.

Meanwhile, Mobina Town SHO Shahid Taj told The Express Tribune that Zakir son of Zulfikar, Umair son of Zafarul Haq, Abdur Rehman son of Aminuddin, Faizan son of Qamaruddin, Zawar son of Tanvir Khan and Hamid son of Ashiq Ali have been arrested on the indication of the KU administration and the complainant.

A case has been registered against them under Sections 341, 504, 509 read with Section 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, pertaining to punishment for wrongful restraint, intentional insult with intent to disturb peace and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

According to the police, the suspects claim to be ignorant of the incident but they have been handed over to the investigation police for further inquiry.

Speaking to the media from the police lock up, suspect Abdur Rehman said he had been living on the KU premises for the past year. He said he had gone out with his friends to buy chips on Wednesday, and the guards stopped them at the gate when they were returning.

The guards asked their names and their fathers' names and then let them go, said Rehman. When asked about the incident, he maintained ignorance of the matter.