KU buses attacked by miscreants on MQM's Black Day

3 students injured in bus attacks. Windows of vehicles smashed.

KARACHI: At least two point buses of Karachi University (KU) were attacked by miscreants on Saturday morning as they plied across the city to pick up students and employees for the university.

As many as two on-board students sustained injuries while the glass-windows of the buses were also smashed in, said a university official.

Karachi University had announced on Friday that the university would remain open on Saturday and all academic activities will continue despite Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) call to observe a Black Day and the business community’s strike in the metropolis.

The university’s transport committee chairman Zulqarnain Shadab told The Express Tribune that the ‘mishaps’ were reported in Gulberg and Safoora Chowrangi areas of the city.

“Our bus drivers are experienced, so they managed to drive past the miscreants without bearing much loss,” he said adding that the offenders pelted stones at the buses.

A number of university employees and students told The Express Tribune that several other buses were also stopped by unidentified men in different areas of the city including Dawood Chowrangi, Orangi 2 ½ and Shah Faisal Colony areas.

The miscreants, who were in groups, asked the drivers to return back to the university, cancelling their trips.

According to Shadab, the attendance in the university was very thin on Saturday as many point buses arrived back almost empty.

“A large number of students choose to commute through public transport which is off the road due to the strike,” he said, adding that the university will decide whether to dispatch the point buses or not in the afternoon after analysing the law and order situation of the city.