KARACHI, Sept 18 (AFP): A professor of Islam known for his liberal religious views was shot dead in Pakistan's port city of Karachi Thursday, officials said.
Mohammad Shakil Auj, the 54-year-old dean of Islamic Studies at the prestigious University of Karachi was gunned down in his car while on his way to an Iranian cultural centre where he was invited as a guest of honour.
His car was being driven down a ramp from a flyover, when "bullets were fired, one hit the professor in the head and he died", senior police officer Pir Mohammad Shah told AFP.
Another bullet struck Profesor Auj's junior colleague, whom police named only as "Amna" in the arm, wounding her.
Auj, a recipient of a presidential medal of distinction, was known for his unorthodox views and was fighting a court case against his predecessor whom he had accused of circulating a text message that called him an apostate.
The professor was known for issuing controversial fatwas (religious decrees) -- pronouncing for example that a Muslim woman could marry a non-Muslim man, and that women need not remove lipstick or nail polish before saying their prayers.
Such views can cause serious offence to some conservative Muslims in Pakistan, which has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for more than ten years.
"We would tell him to be cautious as he was very aggressive in promoting his liberal views regarding the religion," said Professor Tauseef Ahmed Khan, an old friend, and chairman of the Mass Communications department of the Federal Urdu University.
Pak professor gunned down
FE Team | Published: September 19, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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