n August 14, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, the vice chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University, was shot at. His assailant fired three shots but was overpowered by faculty and the guards and handed over to law enforcement.

The media initially reported that the shooter was a university employee frustrated over the payment of his dues. The investigation officer of the case had also told the media that he acted under stress.

The News on Sunday has discovered however that the attacker was in fact an intern on a project at the Department of Computer Science. The university has nothing to do with payments for such projects.

Perturbed over the police’s inaction, the organisations representing employees of the university have issued a statement regretting that the police have not investigated the matter in a professional manner. They have stated that they will continue raising this issue on all available forums until the motive for the attack is determined and justice served.

Dr Sohail Yousaf (chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences) was accompanying the vice-chancellor when the attack took place.

According to Dr Yousaf, there was no security lapse on the University’s part. “The security arrangements are adequate. Dr Muhammad Ali Shah is known for his friendly nature and he regularly mixes with the people. The guards were present when the shooting happened and overpowered the attacker and handed him over to police,” he says. He adds that Dr Shah faced this situation with remarkable courage and prudence.

Staff members at the University have jointly expressed their displeasure at the police’s decision to release the attacker. They refuse to let the incident be swept under the rug and plan to protest in front of the police station and the secretariat if the ‘inaction’ continues.

Dr Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali, a young professor at the Department of Microbiology, was the one who jumped on the attacker when he put a gun to the VC’s head. “My family members and elders have approved of my timely action. They have told me that I was meant for it. It is an honor that I was able to hold the attacker before Dr Suhail Yousaf and the guards overpowered him,” he tells The News on Sunday.

“Unfortunately the police are treating this as a casual matter. The man did not hesitate before firing three shots. Had he not been overpowered, lives might have been lost,” says Dr Ali. He says it was a terrible scene. He calls for the determination of the motive of the attacker who had apparently been stalking Dr Shah for some time.

Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, the vice-chancellor, tells The News on Sunday that there can be many reasons for the attempt on his life. “He was not an employee. He had never met me before. It is wrong to state that he acted in frustration about anything related to a university job.

“He was an intern on a project in the Computer Science Department. The university has nothing to do with payments or hiring for these projects. The faculty win their funds from various bodies including the Higher Education Commission (HEC)”, sys Dr Shah.

“This is the only university where cattle cross your path and encroachers roam freely. No government has taken these matters seriously. Nobody knows what the decision-makers are waiting for, even after this incident,”

“I do not like to surround myself with guards. I like to be with my students and teachers. But from now on, I will allow the security staff to follow closer to me. I am greatly touched by the bravery of Dr Ishtiaq and Dr Yousuf,” he says.

Regarding the boundary wall and encroachments on university land, Dr Shah says, “The university administration cannot fix this problem until and unless a move is initiated at the government level.”

Despite the encroachment issues, the QAU has managed to build over 10 kilometres of boundary wall and hostels.

Prof Dr Azizur Rehman, principal of School of Law at the QAU, is a celebrated researcher. He says, “Looking at the venue, timing and the personality involved in this case, this is not a simple matter. The vice-chancellor of a major university was attacked with a gun on August 14 after a flag hoisting ceremony in the Red Zone. Don’t you think this points to something special?”

Dr Rehman says, “The police have not taken into consideration any of these aspects of the case. They have simply invoked charges of attempted murder, recovered the weapon and dispatched the self-confessed culprit to prison. There is a need for much more investigation in this case.”

Regarding the police response, he says, “The government is taking this matter very lightly. By now, every government functionary including the prime minister should have visited the campus. Directions should have been issued for a thorough probe. This is not a simple case of attempted murder. A state dignitary is involved. A pall of terror is hanging on the campus despite the vacations. Everyone is feeling insecure. The police must take appropriate action.”

Dr Muhammad Zaman is the founding chairman of the Department of Sociology. He has a track record of leading international research teams. Sharing his thoughts on the matter, he states, “It is illogical for an intern to point a gun at the vice-chancellor on account of some job issues. The father of the attacker was reportedly an employee of the university. There are serious flaws and capacity problems in the police investigation system.”

He says there are several student groups on the campus and whenever action is initiated against them, their political backers step in.”Encroachers have been living in houses built on the land for which they have been paid more than once. Some of them have been inducted in various university departments. These employees oppose their employer when hostels or boundary walls are built. This is the only university where cattle cross your path and encroachers roam freely. No government has taken the matters seriously. Nobody knows what the decision-makers are waiting for, even after this incident,” Dr Zaman says. He stresses the need for a thorough probe into the incident.

IG Nasir Khan says: “Let the law take its course. Let the investigation be completed. I will not say anything more on the case. There is no need to panic.”

The writer teaches development support communication at International Islamic University Islamabad.   Twitter: @HassanShehzadZ   Email: Hassan. shehzad@iiui.edu.pk