Gwadar varsity VC, officials untraceable even after 48 hours

Published May 16, 2026
A combination photo of University of Gwadar Vice Chancellor Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir and Pro-Vice Chancellor Syed Manzoor Ahmed. — Photos via University of Gwadar website
A combination photo of University of Gwadar Vice Chancellor Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir and Pro-Vice Chancellor Syed Manzoor Ahmed. — Photos via University of Gwadar website

QUETTA: Despite the passage of more than 48 hours, no clue has been found regarding the vice chancellor, pro-vice chancellor, and two other employees of Gwadar University who went missing while travelling to Quetta from the port city of Gwadar on Friday.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Pro-Vice Cha­n­c­ellor Prof Dr Syed Manzoor Ahmed; VC’s staff officer Irshad Ahmed; and driver Hatim Ali left Gwadar on Wednesday morning in an official vehicle. They rem­ained in contact with their families until reaching the Mastung area, after which their mobile phones were switched off.

After losing contact with them, the vice chancellor’s family informed the police and other authorities about their disappearance in the Mastung area. Police believe the educationists may have been abducted by unidentified individuals.

Security forces launched an intelligence-based search operation and raided various suspected locations for the safe recovery of the senior officials of Gwadar University. However, no trace of the four missing persons has been found so far.

On the other hand, political, educational, and social circles expressed serious concern over the situation and urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure the early and safe recovery of the university vice chancellor and the other missing individuals.

Walk organised

Also, the University of Makran organised a seminar and a protest walk in Panjgur to condemn the reported abduction of the four people.

A large number of participants, including Makran University VC Prof Dr Mir Sadat Baloch, faculty members from various departments, administrative officers along with students attended the seminar and took part in the walk organised in solidarity with the ‘abducted’ academic leadership.

Addressing the seminar, Dr Sadat Baloch expressed deep concern over the incident and said the Gwadar University VC was a distinguished educationist and a guiding light for the promotion of higher education in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026

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