Al-Qaeda cell active in Karachi university

, Feb 9: The Federal government today directed Pakistani authorities to investigate the existence of an al-Qaeda affiliated organisation in the University of Karachi.

The Interior Ministry has written letters to paramilitary rangers and police to investigate the existence of the organisation called "Ashab" on the university campus, GEO news reported. The report said the group was a cell of the terrorist network, al-Qaeda.

The Interior Ministry has directed the law enforcement and investigating agencies to seek help from the Vice Chancellor of the Karachi University.

"The VC should be asked to investigate and pinpoint the persons involved in the distribution of some objectionable material on the university campus," the report said. Police and investigating agencies have in the past reported the existence of cells of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, operating out of Pakistan's biggest city Karachi.

But, this is the first time that the Interior Ministry has talked about the existence of an al-Qaeda cell on the Karachi university campus. In recent months, police and rangers have unearthed and arrested some members of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islaami from the Punjab university students hostel for being part of al-Qaeda networks.

PTI