CTD invites 11 VCs to counter terrorism

Terrorist outfits are targeting educated youths, says anti-terror officer

KARACHI: The Sindh police's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has summoned vice-chancellors (VC) of 11 universities in a bid to counter extremism and terrorism.

The CTD aims to limit highly-educated individuals' involvement in terrorism in Karachi.

"Basically, we have not summoned the vice-chancellors, but invited them to join us so we can brief them on serious matters," said CTD senior anti-terror officer Raja Omar Khattab. The meeting will be held on July 12 at the CTD office.



"Not only would we enlighten the VCs about the role of terrorist and extremist organisations but we would also take their suggestions on how to curb such activities," the officer explained.

Investigators have noted an increased involvement of students of different universities in terrorist or extremist organisations.

"We have the example of Saad Aziz and several others before us. Educated youths' involvement in terrorist activities is due to brain-washing by colleagues or teachers at their varsities," said the senior anti-terror officer.

"Things have changed and terrorist outfits have changed their strategies. They are focusing on recruiting engineers and educated people hence, varsities are the best hunting grounds for them."



The varsities invited are the University of Karachi, Hamdard University, Institute of Business Administration, Bahria University Karachi Campus, FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Federal Urdu University, Iqra University, Jinnah University for Women, Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Institute of Technology, Sir Syed University and Muhammad Ali Jinnah University.

"We would discuss the tactics of the terrorist outfits at the meeting and how these organisations have infiltrated the varsities. How students are lured to their ideology, how teachers can play a role and how universities can put an end to such activities will also be on the agenda," Khattab explained.