Three Arrested After Karachi University Professor Assaulted in Safoora

Karachi police arrested three suspects on Tuesday after a senior University of Karachi professor was allegedly assaulted and wrongfully confined following a traffic dispute near Safoora Chowrangi. The case involves Dr Mohammed Arif Khan Saqi, chairman of the university’s Department of Islamic Learning, and has drawn attention from police authorities, the provincial government and the university’s teaching community.

According to police and the complainant’s account, the confrontation began after a vehicle collision in the Safoora area. Dr Saqi said he sought compensation for damage caused during the incident, after which the dispute escalated. He alleged that people linked to the other vehicle, including armed men, attacked him and another person accompanying him before forcing them into a nearby establishment and subjecting them to further violence.

Police confirmed that three suspects were taken into custody following raids. East SSP Zubair Nazir Sheikh said investigators were pursuing other people believed to have been involved, while Sachal police registered a first information report on Dr Saqi’s complaint. Authorities said the investigation and further raids were continuing as officers worked to identify and detain all those connected with the alleged assault.

The FIR includes provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to rioting, participation in an unlawful assembly, attempted murder and wrongful confinement. Dr Saqi has also alleged that armed individuals used pistol butts during the assault and that shots were fired during the confrontation. Police have confirmed the assault investigation but earlier officials had not independently verified every detail surrounding the reported firing.

The incident triggered a strong reaction within the University of Karachi community. Representatives of the university’s teachers’ association condemned the alleged attack and confinement of the senior academic, calling for accountability and stronger protection for educators. The case gained additional public attention as accounts of the professor’s injuries and the circumstances of the confrontation circulated through Pakistani news and social media platforms.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also sought a detailed report from police on the incident and directed that legal action be taken against those responsible. Provincial authorities said the dignity and security of teachers must be protected, adding official pressure for investigators to pursue the case beyond the initial arrests.

The case has wider significance because it raises concerns about armed intimidation, public safety and the treatment of citizens during routine disputes in Karachi. The involvement of a senior university academic has intensified scrutiny of the police response and of allegations that influential individuals were connected to the confrontation. Investigators are expected to continue raids, complete medico-legal and evidentiary procedures and determine the responsibility of each suspect before the case proceeds through the courts.