QUETTA: The Administrative Officers Association (AOA) of the University of Balochistan (UoB) has strongly condemned the abduction of Gwadar University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Abdul Razzaq Sabir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Syed Manzoor Ahmed, the VC's personal secretary, and their driver. Terming the incident tragic, the association declared it a direct assault on the academic environment, intellectual freedom, and higher education institutions in Balochistan.
An Attack on Academic Leadership Sparks Widespread Concern
In an official statement, the spokesperson for the association highlighted that Dr. Abdul Razzaq Sabir is a distinguished academic, literary, and research figure who has rendered exemplary services for the promotion of higher education and youth empowerment in the province. The association emphasized that targeting such a revered academic leader has sent shockwaves through the educational community, creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety.
Call for Urgent Government and Law Enforcement Action
The UoB Administrative Officers Association has urgently appealed to the Federal and Provincial governments, as well as law enforcement agencies, to take immediate action:
Launch emergency operations to ensure the safe, honorable, and immediate recovery of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and their staff.
Apprehend the perpetrators behind this heinous crime and bring them to justice swiftly.
Rising Insecurity in Balochistan's Higher Education Sector
The spokesperson noted that universities in Balochistan are already grappling with severe financial crises, lack of resources, and systemic uncertainty. Incidents of this nature further exacerbate the sense of insecurity among faculty, officers, staff, and students. The association underscored that it is the fundamental responsibility of the state to guarantee the safety and security of all educational institutions and their personnel.
Warning of Province-Wide Protests
The Administrative Officers Association concluded with a stern warning, stating that if the authorities fail to take immediate and serious action, the academic community reserves the right to launch robust, province-wide protests to demand security and justice.