Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Muhammad Ali Shah narrowly escaped in murderous attempt a day ago when a contractual employee was about to pull the trigger of gun on him but Professor Dr Ishtiaq Ali and others foiled the attack.
Pertinently mention that a day ago on August 13 , President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has conferred Sitara Imtiaz upon the Vice Chancellor (VC) Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in recognition of his meritorious and outstanding services to the education sector.
Talking to TLTP, legal fraternity expressed grave concern over the untoward incident terming the attack on a professor as education under attack.
It has been reported that Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Professor Dr Ishtiaq Ali foiled the murderous attack on the vice-chancellor of the university attending the flag hoisting ceremony in the federal capital Islamabad on Pakistan’s Independence Day morning.
Citing university registrar Raja Qaiser, the BBC Correspondent Azam Khan reported the incident took place after a flag hoisting ceremony at the Central Library when a man pointed pistol at the vice-chancellor and fired three rounds.
Its like education under attack; Legal Fraternity
Dr Ishtiaq Ali told the BBC, “As soon as the accused placed the pistol on the vice-chancellor’s shoulder, I was standing at a distance of about one meter with two other colleagues – I immediately shouted and said what are you doing, as soon as the word of bullet came out of his tongue, then suddenly without thinking, I jumped on him and held his hand”.
It was a reflux action that nerved Dr Ishtiaq Ali who immediately pounced on accused and held his hand firmly while turning it towards the sky. Dr Ali expressed then sound of fire echoed in his ears saying he held accused person hand more firmly, after which other colleagues pressed the accused from behind. Dr Ishtiaq expressed he did all this within two to three seconds saying the main reason for his success was that the VC didn’t panic at all and stood with utmost satisfaction, due to which the accused could not succeed in his intention.
The VC has been cited saying he survived today due to the presence of mind of his colleague, adding the accused has been working on contract in the university since 2016 but he has never had any direct contact with the VC.
Police have arrested the accused and registered a case in this regard. In his initial statement, the accused has told the police that he has been working for four years at a very low salary but he is not being given a permanent job.
Four years ago, Dr Muhammad Ali Joined the QAU in capacity of the VC. Dr. Ali is an eminent academician by professional background, specializing in the field of Biological Sciences. He secured PhD in 1999 from the University of Wales, UK and Post Doc from MU, Colombia USA in 2008. He won 19 national awards on the basis of research and teaching quality including Pakistan Academy of Science Gold Medal, Best University Teacher Award and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
