Who is Dr. Riaz Ahmed and what happened to him?

Dr. Riaz Ahmed is an Associate Professor and Syndicate member at the University of Karachi. He is known for his outspoken stance on various academic and political issues, including allegations of external pressures on the university’s governance.

Dr. Ahmed has been involved in several notable activities, including organizing a seminar on Balochistan’s missing persons in 2015 and advocating for the release of detained individuals in past incidents.

What Happened to Him?
On Saturday, Dr. Ahmed was detained for eight hours by Karachi police across three different stations. He was taken from Tipu Sultan Road to the Jamshed Quarters police station and later transferred to Brigade police station before finally being brought to Bahadurabad police station. His detainment occurred as he was on his way to a crucial Syndicate meeting at the University of Karachi, which was postponed amid allegations of external interference.

Dr. Ahmed’s detention was reportedly prompted by his recent comments on social media about external pressure influencing university decisions. His release followed significant protests and interventions by rights activists, university staff, and legal professionals. Dr. Ahmed claimed that the detainment was a deliberate attempt to prevent him from attending the Syndicate meeting, which was discussing a sensitive issue regarding a High Court judge’s degree.

His wife, who found him at Bahadurabad police station, noted that Dr. Ahmed was moved between different police stations during his detention. Following his release, there has been a call from the University of Karachi Teachers Society for a boycott of classes, highlighting concerns over the handling of the Syndicate meeting and the broader implications of the incident.