KARACHI: University of Karachi’s Chairman of the Department of Islamic Learning, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi, was allegedly assaulted and held captive for several hours at a hotel in Karachi following a minor road-rage incident, police officials said on Tuesday.
In a video statement, Prof. Arif Khan Saqi narrated the incident, saying he was travelling to the University of Karachi in an online cab when the incident occurred in the Safoora Goth area.
According to Arif Khan Saqi, a double cabin vehicle hit the cab.
Prof. Saqi said he asked the double cabin occupants to compensate for the loss and provide their contact details, pointing out that the online cab driver was a poor worker who might not be able to afford the damage.
سچل کے علاقے میں کالے ڈالے پر سوار شخص نے مسلح سیکیورٹی گارڈز کے ہمراہ چئیرمین ڈپارٹمنٹ آف اسلام لرننگ کے سینئرپروفیسر ڈاکٹر محمد عارف خان ساقی کو آن لائن کار ڈرائیورسمیت نا صرف بدترین تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا بلکہ گھسیٹتے ہوئے ہوٹل میں لے جاکر حبس بے جا میں بھی رکھا اور مارتے رہے،… pic.twitter.com/gVia0U92eE
— Nazir Shah (@SsyedHhussain) September 8, 2026
He alleged that the occupants and their security guards began assaulting him and the driver, striking them on the heads with the butt of a rifle.
The professor further alleged that the guards resorted to aerial firing during the incident and later took them to a hotel, where they were forcibly held captive for several hours.
He said Rangers personnel arrived at the scene during the incident, asked only for his name and then left and did not take any action. He added that Malir Cantonment police later intervened, rescued him and handed him over to Sachal police.
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Sachal police said a medico-legal certificate for Prof. Saqi had been prepared. He was found injured and subsequently taken into police custody for further legal proceedings.
Three suspects detained
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East regarding the alleged assault and unlawful confinement of Prof. Saqi.
The SSP East later briefed the home minister, informing him that three suspects had been taken into police custody. He said legal action would be taken against all three.
Teachers’ association condemns attack
The University of Karachi Teachers’ Association strongly condemned the assault on Prof. Saqi and demanded the immediate arrest of everyone involved in the incident.
Protest outside University of Karachi
The incident also prompted a protest by the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) outside the University of Karachi.
The protest caused traffic disruption, with the road from University Road towards Safoora Goth reportedly blocked for some time.
