SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: September 09, 2024

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):University of Agriculture

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Pakistan

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On September 9, 2024, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Gomel University Vice Chancellor Dr. Shakibullah as he was leaving the University of Agriculture in Dera Ismail Khan city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by car.

No one was injured in the attack, but the vice chancellor’s car was damaged.

The reason for the attack was unclear, but violence targeting public figures increased in the region in 2024.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about an apparently targeted attack on a scholar. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to such attacks, including by holding perpetrators accountable, in accordance with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, violent, targeted attacks on scholars undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1858072
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/10-Sep-2024/gomal-university-vc-dr-shakibullah-escapes-unscathed-in-d-i-khan-shooting
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1229138-attack-on-gomal-varsity-vc-owners-of-lahore-private-veterinary-college-nominated-in-fir