ISLAMABAD: In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through South Asian diplomatic and regional circles, a Pakistani officer serving as Director General of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) in Dhaka was brutally assaulted by his own staff members inside his office on Monday.
According to official complaints and hospital records, Dr. Shahzad Afzal, a senior Pakistani scientist and former director at the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), was physically attacked, beaten, and verbally abused by several SARSO officials — some of whom allegedly shouted anti-Pakistan slogans during the assault.
The violent episode reportedly took place on October 26, 2025, when Dr. Afzal, despite being unwell, attended his office to review administrative files. “They barged into my office, shouted threats, and attacked me without provocation,” Dr. Afzal stated in his written complaint to the Dhaka police and higher authorities. “They hit my head on the wall, kicked me repeatedly, and hurled insults against Pakistan.”
Hospital reports later confirmed multiple bruises and a fractured rib, underscoring the severity of the attack.
A Premeditated Assault?
In his detailed letter to the Dhaka police and the SAARC Secretariat, Dr. Afzal accused Senior Finance Officer Shazahan Islam, MIS Officer Md. Rabiul Islam, and two office assistants — Md. Moksedul Islam and Md. Rafiqul Islam — of orchestrating a planned assault.
He said that CCTV cameras in the office had been deliberately disabled and that his peon ignored standing orders not to allow anyone except senior staff. “The environment was already suspicious when I entered the office,” he wrote, adding that the attack appeared to be “an organized attempt to humiliate or even eliminate” him.
Diplomatic Fallout Looms:
Following the incident, Dr. Afzal filed a formal First Information Report (FIR) after initial hesitation from local police, who only acted once medical evidence and eyewitness accounts were presented. The matter has since been escalated to the SAARC Secretary General, who assured a high-level inquiry and disciplinary action against the accused.
Dr. Afzal has also sought immediate security protection, including the posting of a retired army guard and a licensed weapon for self-defense, citing continued threats in Dhaka.
In his latest communication, the Pakistani DG has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad to take serious notice of the attack and raise the issue diplomatically with Bangladeshi authorities.
Internal Rivalries and Anti-Pakistan Sentiments
Sources close to SARSO suggest the incident may be linked to deep internal rivalries within the organization, which operates under the SAARC framework to promote regional cooperation on standardization and quality.
Dr. Afzal has reportedly been under pressure from certain officials “resisting administrative discipline” and “benefiting from misuse of organizational privileges.” He has accused these individuals of colluding with external elements and attempting to destabilize his leadership since his appointment earlier this year after a competitive selection from seven SAARC member countries.Background:
SARSO, headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a specialized body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), tasked with harmonizing standards and promoting quality infrastructure among member states.
This unprecedented assault on a single Pakistani head of a SAARC institution has raised serious questions about staff discipline, workplace safety, and rising hostility against Pakistani officials posted in regional bodies abroad.
