Experts have cited that the next generation of militants may emerge from academic institutions, public or private
ISLAMABAD: In a seminar titled ‘Growing radicalisation in educational institutions’, organised by the Sindh police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), experts cited that the next generation of militants may emerge from academic institutions, public or private.
Few years ago, the arrest of Saad Aziz, a student of Pakistan’s well-known university, the Institute of Business Administration, shook the collective consciousness of Pakistanis. Aziz was awarded death sentence for his involvement in the Safoora Goth bus carnage and murder of prominent human rights activist Sabeen Mahmud. His arrest was an eye-opener for people, helping them realise the plethora of problems present in our academic institutions. But, just as all other things in Pakistan, no real measures were neither devised nor taken to counter this.
More recently Noreen Laghari, a medical student’s video confession disclosing that she was going to be used as a suicide bomber by the militant group, Islamic State, gave rise to the debate once again, only to be forgotten gradually. And this right here is where the problem lies.
Our policymakers don’t realise how gravely problematic it is when an educated privileged individual, with an easy access to life’s basic needs along with luxuries, is easily radicalised. The individual chooses to become a part of the growing militancy despite him or her having the means to know better.
Saad or Noreen weren’t poverty-stricken or underprivileged. Nor were Mashal Khan’s killers illiterate. They were all products of our institutions that breed hatred and radicalism. Our academic institutions churn out millions of graduates every year only to be thrown in the job market to earn money. They do not breed thinkers, progressive leaders or intellectuals.
As much as it is commendable that the CTD brought this issue to the forefront, more needs to be done to eradicate this menace. For starters, we could have skilled students’ counselors at universities to listen to what students are going through to identify where exactly does the problem lay.
Sami Shah
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2017.
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