World Applied Sciences Journal 19 (9): 1284-1288, 2012 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.19.09.2790 Corresponding Author: Muhammad Shoaib, Department of Sociology, University of Gujrat, Pakistan. 1284 Perceptions Towards Terrorist Activities in Pakistan: A Case Study of Maddrassa Background Students Muhammad Shoaib and Muhammad Raza Shah Department of Sociology, University of Gujrat, Pakistan Abstract: The present study aims at understanding the perception towards terrorist activities by Muddrassa students in Pakistan. Terrorist activities have influenced different groups of Pakistani society in a very harsh way. Pakistan is one of the biggest victims of terrorist activities after the start of US lead war on terror. Fifteen case studies and three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were sampled from Gujrat city, Pakistan for this study. The results showed that majority of the cases and participants perceive terrorist activities negative for the national interest and interest of local people. Few respondents perceived terrorist activities against specific places (cinema, CD shop, etc.) promoting vulgarity according to their point of view. It was noted that majority of the respondents were against the killing of humans for achieving any positive or negative objective. They also perceived terrorist activities against government as a loss of common people, property and on the basis of religion against Islam and humanity. They perceived that there may be some external powers which are involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan. It was suggested to tackle the issue by promoting respect to humanity, tolerance, upgrading security and acceptability. Key words: Perceptions Terrorist Activities Religion Maddrassa Students Gujrat Pakistan INTRODUCTION was the era of hijacking airplanes. In 1980s Americans Terrorist activities have a long history. It was firstly Union. Mujahidin were given complete support and were used by the Jewish against Roman Empire as early as provided modern weapons. This war was considered as a 66-72 A.D [1]. These small Jewish groups were named as holy war by Muslims and Muslims from all over the world Zealots. The second group which used terrorist activities participated in it especially the students of Maddaris took was Assassin. It was a group of Shi’ite Muslims sect part in war and were called as Taliban. Osama Bin Laden called Nizari Isma’ilis. They used to kill the enemies even also came from Saudi Arabia and was called a hero by the at the price of their own life. They created fear among the West. At that time Americans and West left the issue enemies through targeted killing of their opposition unresolved in Afghanistan. In 1990s former mujahidin and leaders [2]. These two groups considered it as a divine students of the same Maddrassa started Taliban duty to use terrorist activities against enemy. movement with the preaching of Islam which was also Arab-Israel and Palestinian conflict gave birth to followed in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf [5]. new strategies of terrorism like hijacking the airplanes. After the first attack on world trade center in 1993, In 1960’s Cuba supported the terrorist groups from all American turned against the Muslim Mujahidin [6]. over the world [3]. This was the era when terrorism Second attack of the terrorists on world center on 9/11 became a global phenomenon rather than local as it was gave birth to a new conflict [7]. War on terrorism started before. Terrorist activities were used as a tool for ending and led by US against Al-Qaida changed the world colonialism in mid of the 20 century [4]. scenario. American attacked Afghanistan and terrorist th The Palestinian cause became the main focus of activities started in the area, as history of theoretical terrorist activities after the end of colonial period in attempt to understand the terrorism was derived from 1960’s. Arab defeat from Israel has given birth to a new sub-discipline of collective violence in the discipline of kind of terrorism which was religion based terrorism. 1970s political science [8]. supported Muslim Jihad of Afghanistan against Soviet