Balochistan University loses another teacher in targeted attack
Police said that Danish Alam, a lecturer at the Science and Information Technology Department, was on his way to university on his motorcycle when gunmen sprayed him with bullets. He was shot in the head and chest, killing him instantly. As is usual, the attackers managed to escape.
Alam was the second university teacher to be killed this year, while a total of five university professors and lecturers have been gunned down since 2008.
A Baloch intellectual and professor of Islamic Study Saba Dashtiari was shot dead on Saryab Road, near the university, in June this year.
Saba Dashtiari, whose real name was Ghulam Hussain, was a prominent activist who took part in protest rallies and demonstrations held by the Baloch Students Organisation Azad, Balochistan National Front and Baloch Republican Party against disappearances and target killings of Baloch nationals.
The other victims include Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Safdar Kayani, lecturer at Media and Journalism Department Nazima Talib and Professor Library and Sciences Department Khurshed Ansari. To date, there has been no progress in all these cases.
Alam’s body was shifted to a local hospital after which it was handed over to his heirs after medico-legal formalities. “The victim was hit by five bullets,” doctors said.
Alam was from Gilgit and had no enmity with anyone. He worked seven years as a lecturer at the Science and Information Technology Department of the University of Balochistan, one of his colleagues told The Express Tribune.
The Academic Staff Association has demanded that the government launch a probe into the killings and bring culprits to justice.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior police officer said Alam belonged to the Shia sect and there is a possibility that the attack was of a sectarian nature. “Police are investigating the murder,” he added.
The university will remain closed today (Wednesday) in mourning.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (20)
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@Ahmad: That was another incident of inhuman act in Balochistan. He was our colleage and he insahallah definately will goes to paradise forever and the killer will live in hell for ever. My deep condolence to everyone of his family and freinds. Thousand of people have been killed in balochistan in sectarian and racist attacks. I donot know where is the government? Why not they are resolving the problem? Govt should resign immediately and hand over charge to Real representative of the people who can provide protection to people.
@MissUDashi:
I understand that the topic is sensitive. I am sorry if you felt uncomfortable. I like to make it clear I was referring to only extremists. You should not feel alienated from your dear friend regardless of what I or others say on a comments section.
I only took the conclusion from the implied article itself which quotes an unnamed police official on a sectarian motive. It could of course be wrong as the investigation is still on-going, and there was info updated in the article on his human rights and nationalist protests.
I do not believe your points are necessarily sound enough reasons to dismiss the possibility of sectarianism though, considering the precedents, environments and backgrounds.
However, I pray and wish you and your friend's family good luck in uncovering the truth, finding the motive and killer and seeking justice.
Regards.
Where is the CM? What you can expect from a person incharge who does not know what is a 'Degree'.
May Almighty bless the departed souls.. aameen
its a tragic incident for us that we a facing this again before our beloved teacher Shaheed Saba Dishtiari was killed now an other great teacher. we love our teachers and i with my nation strongly condemn this. Govt should protect them who are educating our brothers and sisters in our home land our balochistan
@bigsaf: I would like to request bigsaf and others like him to kindly stop portraying this cruel and unfortunate incident as an instance of religious intolerance and bigotry. I am a sunni and I loved Danish like my brother. In doing so, you people are actually alienating us from friends like him. This would have been a sectarian cruelty, had he been martyred like the others - going to iran or targeted in a group- on the contrary he was personally targeted by a man who actually was waiting for him near his home- which has never been the case when other Ahl-e-Tasheea were targeted (unless they were some prominent scholars or Khateebs, of which Danish was none). He was a simple man like you and me. So the question is why him why not any other common man from the Shia community?? I think there is another angle to it. Lets hope against hopes that justice is done this time around and the culprit is caught and punished duly which can only be possible if we do not let the culprit slip in the veil of sectarian violence.
The great Man has left us alone " He was the man of Principles" I didn't believe on my eyes when i saw his dead body in front of me .I remember the day when he was sitting with me on the door steps of MCS department.....I Couldn't stop my tears at the time.when my other friend told me that he was the only one in his family who earning bread and butter for his family his younger brother is mentally abnormal and his father is too old .He has left two kids and his wife
I have no words for his dignity "Allah Danish Bhai ko Jannat ul firdos may jagah Ata famai Ameen" I request u all plz pray for him and also help his family.........love u ever Danish bhai u will never be forgotten............
may your soul rest in peace... danish bhai we all love and miss u. v all are very proud ov u, u sacrified ur life for our religion v ll never forget u u will always stay in our heart.. u r a role model for me and for eveyone alse here
When its going to stop .Stop it before its too late.
I am sorry for your loss.
Unfortunately this bigoted murder falls under the pattern of sectarian cleansing agenda, especially of minority intellectuals, by these religious anti-Shia ideological Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni extremists which has been going on for decades.
Unless security, government and society recognize and condemn the prejudiced religious intolerant views and take this extremist militant, terrorist threat seriously, I fear there will be little hope. I've learned in Gilgit/Baltistan sectarianism is quite sadly institutionalized as reflected in the local government.
There has been positive steps taken in Karachi with a crackdown on guns and militants, albeit after 2 murders and a riot on the first day of Muharram. I can only hope and pray similar measures are taken in Quetta and elsewhere.
Danish bhai we will always remember you in our hearts and we will never forget you. You will always be remembered all the way to germany. There are no corners in this world where you won't be missed. Danish bhai was a very friendly and jolly person. I hope these persons who did this will get there punishment and i hope justice will be taken. We will miss you danish bhai from your cousins and your pupoh.
RIP Danish bhai
May his soul rest in peace, and plz pray for his family, that is all what we can do for him, he was my first cousin 31 years old, father of 2 kids.I dont think that any would be able to replace his position as he did alot for his family,friends and students.Dashi you left us all alone forever. I salute your hard work, he was a self made, loyal,hard working person. Dashi remember we always use to have a competition to be on the top, and today I am proud to say that you have completely defeated me by sacrificing your life for your religon,family,students and have made your place amoung the Twinkling STARS.You are a Winner, A real Hero, We will really Miss U Alot.
May God Give Us strenght to bring those animals (Murderers) to justice, Ameen.
Shame...Down with these target killers..
Thanks to our Arab friends who have been funding to destablise Pakistan so that their corporations (and airlines) can make more money and please their Master USA.
An innocent and Brave person, who was well educated and was spreading his precious knowledge to those who cannot afford. He was a limelight of Gilgit/Baltistani community. My Mother and Aunt used to give me his examples during my childhood, and emphasized me to be like him, a part of motivation from him helped me to be at the stage and status I am. I Salute you Danish Bhai, Rest in Peace. May Allah curse the cruel.
We lost another great teacher and a great human . Shame on the Government. they will take as just another killing .
i hv known him since my childhood he was my best friend and brother. i totaly agree with u Ali raza he was an innocent person who always helped everyone arround him and we will mis him very much. the gap can never be filled. the govt and state has failed to provide safty and justice i hope no family have to bear such a loss and i pray to Allah to give courage and strength to his family......... ill miss u dashi.
@Ali Mardan Brother, I knew the man personally. He could not hurt an innocent soul;never. He was killed for being a Shia, and there are no hopes for the perpetrators being brought to justice. It will be the same as before. The state/government/agencies/judiciary is useless in its machinery to provide justice. We have long lost hope that this injustice and imperialism within Pakistan will ever fade. The solution available in the days to come will be a kind of its own-people will have no choice. These killings will continue unabated. The person in question was like an elder brother to me. While I am away studying in Karachi, whenever I would visit my hometown/Quetta, we would meet up. RIP Danish Bhaii. You will last forever in my memory as a gentle and brave soul. You are our hero!
Very sad! Can ET stop posting images like this one?? Why do we forget that such images may hurt the families of the deceased.
"The Academic Staff Association has demanded that the government launch a probe into the killing and bring the culprits to justice". I bet no arrest, no justice nothing would be done like previous cases. Police himself is afraid thus not taking any action against these animals. Provincial Government is deaf and keeping blind eyes on these incidents.
It is really very sad...