KARACHI, Nov 27: A lecturer of a government educational institute was killed in a clash between two student groups in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Tuesday evening.
It is being ascertained whether the lecturer, Hasan Haider, 28, a part-time faculty member of the Government Monotechnic Institute located in Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s Block 12, was caught in the crossfire or if he was targeted, Shah Faisal SP Javed Ali Meher told Dawn.
“It’s not clear how the lecturer suffered the gunshot wounds. We can only presume at the moment that he was caught in the crossfire,” SP Meher observed.
Police said that the All Pakistan Muttahida Students’ Association (APMSO) and Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) clashed with each other on the premises of the institute.
Apart from the lecturer, no one else suffered a gunshot wound, the SP pointed out, adding that the victim suffered three bullet wounds which proved fatal.
The SP quoted the victim’s brother, who has given a statement to the police, saying that Hasan Haider died due to firing by unknown persons on the institute’s premises.
Quoting the family of the deceased lecturer, SP Meher said that Mr Haider did not have a political background nor was he at odds with any of the student groups. Following the incident, Mr Haider was rushed to a private hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police were not sure what sparked the clash.
A spokesman for the IJT, Ahmer Khan, blamed the rival student group for the death of the lecturer, and claimed that outside elements of the APMSO came to the institute on Tuesday and opened fire, killing the lecturer and wounding two of their associates.
He said that police picked up seven activists of the IJT following the incident.
On the other hand, member of the APMSO organizing committee Waseem Aftab told Dawn that in the run-up to the general elections, the IJT was playing the role of the ‘B’ team of the Jamaat-i-Islami and wanted to sabotage the city’s peaceful atmosphere.
He held the IJT responsible for the clash and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the incident.
He said that the APMSO had always followed a peaceful policy and would continue to adhere to their policy of promoting peace in the educational institutions.
Police denied that any arrests of students have taken place.
It may be pertinent to mention that the Rangers maintain a base camp in the same block where the institute is located.
