KU senior professor allegedly assaulted, detained after minor traffic dispute

Dr Professor Arif Khan Saqi, chairman of the University of Karachi’s (UoK) Islamic Learning Department, was allegedly severely assaulted and held against his will following a minor traffic dispute near Safoora Chowrangi in Karachi on Tuesday, with police saying gunmen employed by the son of a restaurant owner were involved in the incident.

In a video statement, Dr Saqi said he was travelling from his home to the university after booking an online motorcycle ride when the confrontation began outside Sindh Green Restaurant near Rim Jhim Tower.

He said that a vehicle was coming out of the restaurant to join the road when a security guard came out and signalled for them to stop. They stopped, but the vehicle then reversed at speed and hit their motorcycle. The driver began to leave the scene, prompting Saqi to intervene and ask for compensation for the damage to the motorcycle.

“I told him that the online bike rider was a poor man who was using someone else’s motorcycle to earn his livelihood and could not afford to bear the cost of the damage. I asked that whatever damage has been caused should be compensated,” he said.

It was at this point, Saqi alleged, that the dispute escalated.

He said that the son of the restaurant owner came outside, fired shots into the air and attacked him with the butt of a pistol. Saqi alleged that he and the motorcycle rider were dragged inside the hotel, where their mobile phones were taken from them and later returned.

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Saqi added they were then subjected to further violence inside the restaurant and held against their will, saying they were repeatedly beaten and struck on the head with pistol butts before police personnel from Malir arrived and took them to Sachal Police Station.

Police confirmed that an argument had taken place following a collision between the vehicles.

Sachal Station House Officer (SHO) Ijaz Pathan said Saqi had been involved in the dispute and that gunmen employed by the son of the hotel owner had assaulted him during the confrontation.

The SHO, however, declined to confirm the allegation that the hotel owner’s son had fired shots into the air. Pathan said Saqi was at Sachal Police Station and that a case was being registered on his complaint.

The assault prompted strong condemnation from the UoK Teachers’ Association.

The association’s joint secretary, Dr Sheikh Muhammad Zeeshan Iqbal, condemned both the alleged assault and unlawful confinement of Saqi: “The dignity, respect and protection of teachers are ensured in every civilised society."

“Unfortunately, in Pakistan, teachers are increasingly becoming the most vulnerable minority,” he added.

Iqbal urged the relevant authorities to take notice of the incident and ensure that those responsible were appropriately punished. He said the dignity of teachers must be given priority in society and called for action to ensure that such incidents did not go unpunished.