Karachi: Director of Usman Institute of Technology shot dead during robbery attempt

The director of the Usman Institute of Technology (UIT), Dr. Zahir Ali Syed, was shot dead by unidentified men near Karachi’s Stadium Road on Friday.

According to police, the incident appeared to be a “robbery attempt”.

Professor Dr. Zahir,70, was taken to the nearby Aga Khan Hospital but could not survive due to excessive bleeding caused by the gunshot.

According to SSP East Sajid Amir Sadozai, Dr. Syed was traveling in a car that was being driven by his driver after leaving the university for the day before the incident.

He added that the professor dropped his driver off near Khatoon-i-Pakistan Girls College and drove his car himself for a short distance when armed pillion riders intercepted his car with an apparent motive to loot him.

Dr. Syed might have sensed danger and accelerated his car trying to escape but the assailants opened fire at him and fled away.

According to the police, it is not the case of target killing.

“Had it been a targeted killing, the attackers would have fired shots at him from a point-blank range, but it was not seen in this case,” he added.

SSP East further added, “gunmen could also have tried to stop the car from the front — which they didn’t, while they also didn’t use a 9mm pistol, which is common in targeted killings.”

Further investigation into the incident is underway.