KARACHI: Dean of Islamic Studies Faculty at the University of Karachi Dr Shakeel Auj was shot dead by unknown assailants on Thursday.

His vehicle was fired at following which he was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital where an official said Dr Auj was dead on arrival and that his family members were present at the hospital.

Dr Auj was shot three times in the neck and chest. He was heading to attend an event by Iranian consulate with a fellow professor Tahir Maqsood. His body has been taken to Jinnah Hospital for autopsy.

The incident took place in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town near the Baitul Mukarram mosque and police and Rangers personnel reached the site soon after.

SSP Pir Mohammad Shah told BBCUrdu that a madrassah in Karachi had issued a fatwa relating to alleged blasphemy against Dr Auj.

The SSP added that following the fatwa, a message declaring the professor as 'wajibul qatl' (liable to be killed) was made public via SMS messages.

Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has ordered Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali to submit a report on the incident.

As news of Dr Auj's death was confirmed, it was announced that Karachi University would remain closed for three days.

Dr Mohammad Shakeel Auj was an author, a professor and dean at Karachi University’s faculty of Islamic Studies. He also used to edit Al-Tafseer — an HEC-recognised research journal on Islamic Studies.

He has been associated with KU for 19 years and had been heading the Islamic Studies department since February 1, 2012. According to the university's website, Dr Auj has written 15 books.