RAWALPINDI, Sept 6: A final year student of the Islamic International Medical College of the private Riphah International University went on a shooting spree against the college faculty members on Tuesday, killing the college's vice principal Brig (retired) Sanaullah Khan in the end.

“I had to kill them all. They had been giving me low marks and ruining my future,” sneered Khurram Shahzad, 28, to police after university guards captured him while he was trying to flee. He was handed over to police with the murder weapon. Eyewitnesses said Shahzad missed his first three targets - Dr Ayaz Bhatti, female faculty member Dr Komal and Dr Inamul Haq - and got the vice principal.

“Ironically, poor Brig Sanaullah had nothing to do with his academic activities,” university spokesman Mansoor Nasir told Dawn. “Brigadier sahib was working on his computer when the gunman burst into his office and shot him from behind at close range.”

Brig Sanaullah had been associated with the Riphah University since its founding in 1996 and was highly respected in the academic community.

“It is a human tragedy and a big loss to us,” said Dr Mohammad Mian Ramzan, a colleague of the murdered professor and vice principal. A staff member of the college said Khurram Shahzad had joined the medical college in 2002 but was expelled because of his poor performance.

His father, who used to finance his education, worked abroad. His old mother and two sisters in Pakistan, who acted as his guardians, intervened after his expulsion. They pleaded with the college to readmit him, assuring that Shahzad had received treatment from doctors for his mental stress and would concentrate on his education.

“So, he was readmitted in the college and he did perform better in his studies compared to the past,” said the staff member.

On Tuesday, however, his rage apparently returned. Shahzad, who lived in a private hostel, turned up at the college with a pistol and went on a rampage around 10:15am.

Witnesses said he first went into the office of Dr Ayaz Bhatti, who teaches community medicine, and fired at him. Luckily, Dr Bhatti escaped unhurt.

Next he went after Dr Komal. She also remained unhurt. His third target was Dr Inamul Haq, a senior lecturer, whose peon ushered Shahzad into his office, not knowing that he had murder on his mind. It was the good fortune of Dr Inamul Haq that he missed his target the third time.

Panic and fear had spread in the campus by the time he finally got Brig (retired) Sanaullah Khan.

Immediately after the tragic incident, the university housed in the old Supreme Court building was closed and a day of mourning declared for the slain vice principal for Wednesday.

It was the first fatal shooting incident in the history of the university. Police suspect the alleged killer was in distress due to his poor performance. The investigating officer said the accused student had no past criminal record.