Universities body stresses need to curb radicalisation

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has urged universities to institute effective protocols and programmes to curb opportunities for radicalisation of students and university staff, while strengthening security arrangements on campuses, reports The News.

In a letter issued to vice-chancellors, rectors and heads of universities, the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, has said that “some of the recent acts of violence and terrorism in the country have exposed involvement of university students in such disastrous incidences. This is quite unfortunate and underscores that intolerance, radicalisation and extremism is on the rise, and universities present no exception to this ominous challenge.”

The letter states that the commission has been constantly sensitising the top leadership of the universities to possible security threats and their manifestations. Citing the vice-chancellors’ committee meeting held in May 2017, the letter says connection and coordination with students should be strengthened and faculty visibility must be ensured in all social spaces across the university so as to eliminate disconnect with the students and between faculty themselves.
Full report on The News site