A medical student at Riphah International University (RIU) Rawalpindi, who had been failing exams for four consecutive years, on Tuesday shot dead the vice chancellor of the varsity inside his office. Vice Chancellor Brigadier (r) Sanaullah was shot dead by Khurram Shahzad, a final year student at the university, at around 10am on campus. “Shahzad entered the university campus carrying a pistol and passing through several departments, finally fired four shots in the vice chancellor’s office resulting in his death on the spot,” a police official said.
Police quoting eyewitnesses said Shahzad also opened fire at other teachers including Professors Ayaz Bhatti and Inamul Haq, but fortunately they escaped narrowly. However, the vice chancellor was shot at point-blank range in his head and died on spot. Soon after the incident police reached the scene of the crime and took the dead body into their custody. It has now been shifted to the hospital for autopsy.
Shahzad fled from the scene after killing the vice chancellor but was later overpowered by the university security guard outside the university premises and handed over to the police. Professor Mansur said that Shahzad had been enrolled since 2002, and had repeated his fourth year four times. He had earlier been expelled by the administration, but was enrolled once again after his parents had pled the university authorities to allow him to continue his studies. “Shahzad was suffering from depression as he repeated his fourth year four times,” he said. The real cause which compelled Shahzad to kill the vice chancellor could be ascertained after complete investigation.
Ayaz Bhatti, who narrowly escaped, said Shahzad first opened fire at him and another colleague and later entered the vice chancellor’s office and shot and killed him at point blank. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yaseen Farooq said according to preliminary investigation Shahzad had killed the vice chancellor due to depression tied with his having to repeat his fourth year four times. However, he said police would investigate the incident from various angles to ascertain the real cause of the incident.
RIU is located in Rawalpindi on Peshawar Road in the limits of R A Bazaar police station. It was established in 2002 by the Islamic International Medical College Trust (IIMCT) and is a non-profit welfare organisation registered with the government of Pakistan. Police have registered an FIR against Shahzad and started investigation.