KARACHI - Terming the investigations of CID official Raja Umar Khatab flawed, the administration of Karachi University (KU) has rejected that Al-Qaeda network is operating in the institution.
However, the university admitted that some sectarian elements were operative in the educational institution which caused a bomb blast near KU Central Cafeteria in 2010, when some workers of a religious students’ wing were found involved in the bomb conspiracy.
The Nation has learnt that some senior professors had also received life threats from the sectarian elements while the Rangers’ intelligence had already told them about such threats.
Police had claimed that Al-Qaeda network had been found operational in the University of Karachi after arresting three persons involved in terrorist activities and distributing jihadi literature and making propaganda. CID official Raja Umar Khatab had told media that all the arrested people were students of the university and the network was responsible for targeted killings, bomb attacks and other extremist activities.
According to CID Official, “The network includes students and some professors, while laboratories were being used to create explosive materials.” “Al-Qaeda is active in Karachi University in a highly organised manner and is setting up different cells for different tasks”. Talking about the issue, a senior official of the University and KU Campus Security Advisor Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi told The Nation that not a single student and teacher of the University was working for Al-Qaeda network.
He said that KU had admitted that in 2010 some KU students, belonging to IJT, was involved in a bomb blast that took place near KU Central Cafeteria, but this time intelligence report was baseless. It is pertinent to mention here that in the KU bomb blast at least five students were injured at midday prayers.
He pointed out that not a single letter was sent by Sindh Home Department to KU.
The security of the Karachi University was under surveillance of Pakistan Rangers and Rangers never informed KU about such illegal activities of Al-Qaeda network. He said some officials of the other secret agencies had expressed surprise over the reports of CID.
A senior professor, seeking anonymity, said he did not know whether any student or teacher of the university was working for Qaeda network or not but it was confirmed that some sectarian groups were active in the the university.
“The bomb blast of 2010 in KU is a clear example of their activities in the campus. He disclosed that some senior professors had received life threats from sectarian groups, which was really a point of concern for every member of KU varsity. He said CID must start working on this front so that precious lives could be protected from criminals.