KARACHI, May 6: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), expressing concern over lack of progress in the murder case of Dawood College of Engineering and Technology Principal Dr Saleem Choudhry, has demanded that independent and competent officials be deputed for a thorough investigation and the culprits be arrested immediately.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the HRCP Sindh chief Zohra Yusuf has expressed her dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in the case of slain Dr Choudhry, who was shot dead near the college on March 25.

She said that the family of the late principal had informed her that the educationist, in his attempt to curtail the corruption in the institution, had made several enemies.

Ms Yusuf said that it was shocking that the driver, sole witness to the incidence and the complainant in the case, had been allowed to leave the city for which no justifiable or tenable reasons were being given.

According to her, the investigation was being carried out by the Anti-Violence Crime Cell, Garden, but no significant progress had been made so far perhaps because, as feared by the grieved family members, the murderers enjoyed political protection.

Ms Yusuf said that the family of the deceased was further being persecuted and victimized by threatening calls to restrain from pursuing the case and seeking justice. Despite repeated appeals made by the aggrieved family all the concerned authorities remained unmoved and showed callous indifference.

She said that the HRCP had also contacted the governor, federal education minister and the IG Police and expressed concern regarding the case, she concluded.