KU professor shot dead in Karachi’s FB area

Unidentified assailants shot Dr Syed Wahidur Rehman, assistant professor at KU's Mass Communication dept, four times

KARACHI: An assistant professor of the University of Karachi was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Wednesday.

According to initial reports, armed men riding a motorcycle fired four shots at Dr Syed Wahidur Rehman in Karachi’s Federal B area. Rehman received bullet wounds in the face, head and chest. The 42-year-old professor was in his Suzuki Cultus in Block 16 of FB area when he was gunned down.

The professor's car following the attack. PHOTO: NOMAN AHMED/ EXPRESS

Confirming that Rehman - popularly known as Yasir Rizvi - was not Shia, police said the murder could be a case of mistaken identity and hence, sectarian killing.

In a bid to investigate the murder from all angles, the police are also looking to see if Rehman's killing has links with Dr Shakil Auj's murder as the two professors were close associates.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, professors close to Rehman claimed the deceased was not linked to a session on Balochistan, to be held at the university on May 6. Earlier, it was widely speculated that the attack was linked to the seminar, following prominent rights activist Sabeen Mahmud's murder on Saturday.

Read: KU Islamic Studies dean shot dead

Following the attack on Rehman, educational activities at the university have been suspended, as per a formal notification issued by the university.

"The University of Karachi is closed today ie April 29, 2015 due to the sad demise of Dr Syed Waheedur Rehman, assistant professor, department of mass communication, University of Karachi."

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the killing and asked for an inquiry report from IG Sindh.

A copy of the professor's ID card. PHOTO: NOMAN AHMED/ EXPRESS

Rehman, an assistant professor at KU's Mass Communication department, was a resident of Latif Square in FB area.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, KU Assistant Professor Inam Bari said Rahman had been working at the university for the last three years.

EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB

Read: KU suspends academic activities for three days

The deceased had completed his Master’s and PhD from Federal Urdu University and worked there as a teacher, until he moved to KU. The university's vice chancellor had appointed Rehman as his media adviser.

Bullet casings recovered from the scene of the crime indicate that a 9mm pistol was used in the attack.

In September last year Dr Shakil Auj, dean of the Islamic Studies Faculty of the university, was killed in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city.

Nawaz seeks report in attack on Dr Rehman

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of Professor Dr Syed Wahidur Rahman and has sought a report into the incident.