Ansarul Shariah has largely been contained: Interior Minister
Ansarul Shariah has largely been contained: Interior Minister
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KARACHI: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the Ansarul Shariah group, which has been found to be involved in the recent spate of terrorism in the city, has been largely contained and law enforcement agencies will nab the remaining few members soon.

KARACHI: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the Ansarul Shariah group, which has been found to be involved in the recent spate of terrorism in the city, has been largely contained and law enforcement agencies will nab the remaining few members soon.

Addressing the media after visiting the headquarters of the Pakistan Coast Guards, he said that the group came to light after 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.

The minister 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.

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.

“Youth have access to social media…such groups create sensational, motivation videos to lure youth into

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 achieved in past four years, Iqbal added.

Irregularities in census highly unlikely, says Iqbal

Later talking to media at a college, Iqbal said census is a national matter and should not be politicised.

He said that irregularities in the census are highly unlikely as the process was done on “two levels” by civil and military authorities, which then reconciled their results.

“If anyone has spotted any irregularity they should point it out and it will be looked into…we should avoid politics on this because it is a national matter and we should have a national consensus on this,” the minister said.

He also dismissed concerns that the census was biased towards a particular province.