Dr. Shakil Auj was an Islamic scholar, professor, and dean of Islamic studies at the University of Karachi. His views on religious issues have usually been described as moderate; for example, he was an advocate of allowing Muslim women to marry outside the faith. He was an especially prolific and admired figure in Pakistan, having even been granted the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, a Pakistani government-issued medal for those who have contributed exemplary “service to the state.” 

On a morning of September in 2014, Dr. Auj was on his way to the Iranian Embassy with his 8-year-old niece, Asra, and Dr. Amna Afreen, who had obtained her PhD under Dr. Auj’s supervision and was scheduled to give a speech in his honor that day. All were seated in the back seat of the vehicle. On that ride, an assassin rode up and fired into the vehicle, which killed Dr. Auj and injured Dr. Afreen.

“As my mother arrived [in the emergency room], she had to be helped by two ladies. It was as if she had lost the ability to walk on her own. She saw her husband's dead body and the excruciating loss caused her to cry out to her sons. It was like sleeping with a roof over our head one night and then suddenly realizing that we had all become homeless.” - Dr. Muhammad Hassan Auj, son of Dr. Shakil Auj

Though the circumstances around the death are still somewhat murky, as no official investigation has reached a conclusion, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent claimed responsibility for the murder. Dr. Auj had earlier received death threats as far back as 2012, after he gave a speech in the United States which some, including four university professors, interpreted as blasphemous. One of these professors spearheaded a campaign against Dr. Auj, spreading word of fatwas that had been issued against his life, at least some of which were apparently forgeries. The other three participated; all were investigated but eventually acquitted.

A suspected killer was apprehended a few years later, but he was also acquitted on lack of evidence.