A senior professor at the University of Karachi remains under medical care following an assault that colleagues describe as a targeted act of violence. The incident, which occurred on campus grounds Tuesday, has sparked immediate outrage among faculty and students, who are now demanding a transparent investigation into the security collapse.
The professor, whose identity is being withheld pending further investigation, was intercepted by a group of unidentified men near the Faculty of Arts. Witnesses reported that the assailants dragged the educator into a vehicle before subjecting him to physical abuse. He was later abandoned near the campus perimeter, suffering from severe bruising and internal trauma.
“This wasn’t a random mugging,” said a fellow department head who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. “This was a message.”
University administration, often criticized for its lax security protocols, issued a brief statement promising to review CCTV footage from the surrounding area. However, skepticism remains high. Student unions and the faculty association have already begun organizing protests, pointing to a pattern of intimidation that has plagued the campus for months.
The motive for the attack remains unclear. While police have registered a case against unknown persons, no arrests have been made. The silence from law enforcement has only fueled rumors of internal university politics or external pressure regarding the professor’s recent academic activities.
“We are not talking about a petty crime,” a student representative told reporters outside the administration block. “We are talking about a teacher being hunted on his own campus. If the administration can’t guarantee our safety, they have no business running this institution.”
The university’s vice chancellor is expected to meet with faculty representatives Thursday morning. Until then, the campus remains on edge, with many professors questioning whether they can continue their work in an environment where their physical safety is no longer a given.
