Islamabad, Dec 27 : The reality of the lone surviving terrorist behind the Mumbai carnage Ajmal Kasab may be being denied by the Pakistani Government, but the real problem facing the Pakistani society is that there has been a gradual transformation leading to the creation of pockets of population or youth, especially in Punjab province, that behave exactly like Kasab, a leading Islamabad based daily has said.

The Dawn said that some journalists had apparently met the family, talked to the villagers and dug out references to Kasab and his parents in the electoral rolls of Faridkot, but now there is no mention of the family in the electoral list.

Even President Asif Ali Zardari, unmoved by reported comments of the man said to be Kasab's father, says that he has seen no evidence to prove Kasab is Pakistani.

The issue may be resolved for short-term. "We can all forget about Kasab but one must ask what is happening to the youth from Pakistan, and in this context `mainland' Punjab, who are involved in suicide attacks within the country, perhaps even in the region," the paper asked.

Those involved in the Marriott blast are said to be from Lashkar-i-Jhangavi. The young man who tried to carry out a suicide attack in Wah Cantt some time ago and caught from Khushab and the man responsible for the post-Marriott blast at Islamabad's Police Lines belonged to Rahim Yar Khan.

A popular argument is that the transformation of those living an ordinary existence into individuals with an extremist bent of mind is caused by poverty, Dawn said.

It is indeed undeniable that years of poverty compounded with poor governance have disillusioned many people who then seek an outlet through aligning themselves with various militant outfits.

Given that these outfits continue to be effective in certain areas, it is apparent that people are being drawn to them. In fact, in the days before 9/11 there were about 72 militant outfits that have since regrouped and consolidated themselves in smaller numbers but with greater power and influence.

Resultantly, a lot of activities are centred in and around Punjab, which was always considered socially and economically more advanced than other parts of the country such as the Frontier, Balochistan and Sindh, the paper said. (ANI)