A Karachi University academic who spent around nine hours in police custody on Saturday linked his ordeal to a high-profile case involving six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges. These judges had publicly accused the country’s premier intelligence agency of pressuring them to deliver favorable verdicts in politically sensitive cases.
In March, the IHC judges addressed a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council, demanding institutional consultation over the issue, warning that such interference could compromise the independence of Pakistan’s judiciary. The judges specifically accused the intelligence agency of coercing them in cases with significant political implications, including those involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year.
Following this, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri, one of the IHC judges, faced accusations from Karachi University of holding an invalid legal degree. This scrutiny extended to Dr. Riaz Ahmed, who was detained on Saturday.
After his release, Ahmed stated, “My abduction today at 1:30 PM from Tipu Sultan Road was to prevent me from attending the KU Syndicate meeting at 3:00 PM at the Vice Chancellor’s office, where a report by the unfair means committee against Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri of the Islamabad High Court was to be approved in a one-sided inquiry on 17/8/2024.”
He explained that he was moved between police stations until 9:00 PM and was released without charges from the Bahadurabad Police Station at 10:00 PM.
In recent weeks, the Karachi University professor had taken to social media, claiming that his institution was under “unusual external pressure” and was being used in a “power struggle in Islamabad.” Ahmed clarified that he did not support any political party but believed Justice Jehangiri should be allowed to defend himself against the accusations.
“As a teacher, I know it is the right of every student to respond to any allegations against them,” he said, adding that as an elected member of the Karachi University Syndicate, it was his duty to ensure fairness in the inquiry conducted by the appointed committee.
When questioned about Ahmed’s detention, the police stated they had received information about an absconder named Riaz Ahmed before taking him into custody. However, after verifying the records, they discovered he was a university professor who had been previously acquitted in a court case. “He was released according to the law,” the police said in a statement, adding, “There is no hidden aspect to this case.”
The Karachi University Teacher Society (KUTS) condemned the incident, stating that Ahmed was “forcibly taken” to a local police station to “prevent his participation in the Syndicate meeting.”
“Depriving teachers of their rights poses a significant threat to the security of our nation,” said Dr. Asad Tanoli, the association’s secretary general. “A society that disrespects its educators cannot avoid destruction.”