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

Growth to stability
Updated 29 Apr, 2026

Growth to stability

THE State Bank’s decision to raise its key policy rate by 100 basis points to 11.5pc signals a shift in priorities...
Constitutional order
29 Apr, 2026

Constitutional order

FOLLOWING the passage of the 26th and 27th Amendments, in 2024 and 2025 respectively, jurists and members of the...
Protecting childhood
29 Apr, 2026

Protecting childhood

AN important victory for child protection was secured on Monday with the Punjab Assembly’s passage of the Child...
Unlearnt lessons
Updated 28 Apr, 2026

Unlearnt lessons

THE US is undoubtedly the world’s top military and economic power at this time. Yet as the Iran quagmire has ...
Solar vision?
28 Apr, 2026

Solar vision?

THE recent imposition of certain regulatory requirements for small-scale solar systems, followed by the reversal of...
Breaking malaria’s grip
28 Apr, 2026

Breaking malaria’s grip

FOR the first time in decades, defeating malaria in our lifetime is possible, according to WHO. Yet in Pakistan,...