KARACHI: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday expressed dismay at the trend of educated, university graduates joining terrorist organisations and said the media, government, and parents [of students] need to play their part in addressing the issue.
Addressing the media after visiting the headquarters of the Pakistan Coast Guards, he said that he has directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to take concrete steps to ensure students do not turn to ideologies promoting terrorism and militancy.
The minister said, “Youth have access to social media…such groups create sensational, motivation videos to lure youth into terrorism.”
While referring to Ansarul Shariah group, he said that the group has been found to be involved in the recent spate of terrorism in the city and has been largely contained and law enforcement agencies will nab the remaining few members soon.
The group came to light after the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Khawaja Izhar on Eid-ul-Azha, adding that the country will soon hear the “good news” of the group’s elimination, he added.
Stressing on the importance of ensuring coastal security, he said historically miscreants, terrorist and smugglers have used sea routes to conduct their activities. It is important for Pakistan to consolidate successes achieved against terrorism in past four years, Iqbal concluded.
