Dean of KU Islamic Studies department shot dead

Published
176

KARACHI: Dean of Islamic Studies Faculty at the University of Karachi Dr Shakeel Auj was shot dead by unknown assailants on Thursday.

His vehicle was fired at following which he was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital where an official said Dr Auj was dead on arrival and that his family members were present at the hospital.

Dr Auj was shot three times in the neck and chest. He was heading to attend an event by Iranian consulate with a fellow professor Tahir Maqsood. His body has been taken to Jinnah Hospital for autopsy.

The incident took place in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town near the Baitul Mukarram mosque and police and Rangers personnel reached the site soon after.

SSP Pir Mohammad Shah told BBCUrdu that a madrassah in Karachi had issued a fatwa relating to alleged blasphemy against Dr Auj.

The SSP added that following the fatwa, a message declaring the professor as 'wajibul qatl' (liable to be killed) was made public via SMS messages.

Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has ordered Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali to submit a report on the incident.

As news of Dr Auj's death was confirmed, it was announced that Karachi University would remain closed for three days.

Dr Mohammad Shakeel Auj was an author, a professor and dean at Karachi University’s faculty of Islamic Studies. He also used to edit Al-Tafseer — an HEC-recognised research journal on Islamic Studies.

He has been associated with KU for 19 years and had been heading the Islamic Studies department since February 1, 2012. According to the university's website, Dr Auj has written 15 books.

Opinion

Editorial

China green channel
Updated 31 Oct, 2026

China green channel

The green channel is a useful step, given Pakistan identifies which agricultural products it can export, meets Chinese quality standards, and builds dependable supply chains.
Excessive punishment
Updated 31 Oct, 2026

Excessive punishment

It is unfortunate to see her and her husband punished so harshly for acts that seem downright frivolous compared to the violence actual terrorists routinely perpetrate.
Forced conversions
31 Oct, 2026

Forced conversions

THE institutional bias against minority females leaves them to either be directly victimised or to live in ...
Candid admission
Updated 30 Oct, 2026

Candid admission

Both ruling and opposition parties have lost credibility and political ground due to their ongoing vendetta.
Disrupted LPG supply
Updated 30 Oct, 2026

Disrupted LPG supply

Blaming the Iran border closure is but an attempt to cover up the ministry’s failure to do its basic duty.
Judicial disaffection
30 Oct, 2026

Judicial disaffection

THE resignation of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani from the Lahore High Court is another indicator of the deepening...