Published on, Aug. 20 -- August 20, 2025 6:20 AM

The recent arrest of Professor Usman Qazi on allegations of facilitating terrorism raises an important legal and academic question. Does a person's professional status as a university teacher grant any immunity from criminal liability under Pakistani law? The straightforward answer is no.

The Constitution of Pakistan enshrines the principle of equality before the law. Article 25 guarantees that all citizens are equal, and the law does not create exceptions on the basis of profession or office. Similarly, in the broader common law tradition, the principle is firmly established that no profession or office provides immunity from criminal liability unless such immunity is expressly granted b...