Terrorists in educational institutions; when you can't tell who is, who isn't

By
GEO NEWS
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Those involved in terrorism have often been termed as people who were misguided because of lack of knowledge which made them believe in the propaganda used to brainwash them, but when the educated youth of a society turn towards terrorism, it shakes the foundations of society and the families affected.

Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, a student of the University of Karachi was just one such youth. His actions have destroyed the dreams and aspirations of his family and have left his fellow students in a state of shock.

Students are left wondering who to befriend and who to avoid as it is becoming nearly impossible to identify the new wave of terrorists plaguing our society.

The dilemma is equally concerning for parents who take on all hardships humanly possible to educate their sons, so they may rise to a higher stature in society. When these same sons, pick up weapons and walk down the path of terrorism, one can only imagine what the parents have to face.

Recent revelations regarding the presence of a new brand of a terrorist organisation, the Ansar-ul-Sharia, at the University of Karachi has spread fear and panic among families of students and the university administration.

Who does one trust? Who does one associate with? Who is a terrorist? Who isn’t? It is these questions that are plaguing everyone’s mind after students of the varsity turned out to be members of local and international terrorist organizations.

Part One of the Special Coverage

Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui and Hasan Nazeer

Abdul Karim Sarosh 

A resident of Patel Bungalows in Gulzar-e-Hijri, Karachi; Sarosh was like most average Pakistani kids. He was a little reserved and weak in his studies. Last year, he had a brush with law enforcement over the construction of a mosque in Kaneez Fatima society.

While such a person might not be the life of the party, it wouldn’t ring alarm bells that the individual might be a terrorist.

Hasan bin Nazeer, who was killed following the attack on MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar, was a resident of Kehkashan Homes which was near to Sarosh’s home.

Hasan bin Nazeer

Hasan was an engineer by qualification and was pursuing his PhD. He was also working at the Dawood Engineering College. No one had even suspected for a moment that his future would be anything but bright.

Then how did someone so bright, end up walking down the dark path of terrorism?