ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the elements behind fomenting unrest and creating chaos for the sake of a few pennies would be brought to justice.
Talking to the media on Saturday after inquiring about health of injured police officials at Polyclinic hospital, he also alleged that Punjab police officials entered Islamabad from Rawalpindi and took part in Friday’s violent protests. He also said that the protestors were given a free passage from Faizabad to Islamabad.
The government had announced to support the protest on the eve of Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (PBUH) and provided stage to the protesters so they could record their protest peacefully but some elements misused this opportunity, he added.
“We strongly condemn those who were involved in creating chaos and disorder for minting a few pennies. We have summoned footage of demonstrations to ascertain the details about the elements who indulged in looting and ransacking the properties.“ These people would be arrested from their homes and brought to justice, he declared. He claimed that an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of ICT Police had arrested six policemen from Punjab Police during the violent demonstrations and “I have come to know that police released them for their being ‘police fellows’. We are conducting inquiry against those policemen who freed them.” He said that a judicial inquiry had been ordered as to why and under which circumstances they were released, adding that action will be initiated against the responsible.
To a question, he said some armed outsiders were behind the violence during the demonstrations. “I assure you that no one will be spared and those responsible will be taken to task and exposed,” he added. The minister said that around 50 persons were arrested on Friday but now their number had reached 62. Investigations were underway and their identity will be made public, he added.
The minister also appreciated ICT Police for handling the situation professionally, which averted loss of human lives unlike in some other areas of the country. “People say police flees the scenes and does not hold the ground to face the demonstrators. Today, I say proudly that police does not run; rather they and face the situation bravely. I announce Sitara-e-Jurrat for an injured assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and order for promotion of injured constables to the rank of ASI, he announced.
Islamabad IGP told the reporters that 62 persons had been nabbed under the charges of ransacking and damaging the public property during Friday’s violent protests. About 50,000 to 60,000 persons wanted to enter the diplomatic enclave on Friday but they were stopped by a handful of policemen, he said. Eight dacoits were also apprehended and four motorcycles were recovered from them, which were snatched from protesters, he disclosed. The IGP said that security was put on high alert on Saturday in the federal capital, while it has been beefed up in the red zone, including the diplomatic enclave.

Staff Reporter from Lahore adds: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik is now a certified liar because the Supreme Court has declared him a dishonest in the dual nationality case.
In a statement, the Punjab law minister said that Rehman Malik’s allegation against Punjab police for taking part in Friday’s violent protests against the anti-Islam film produced in the US and entering Islamabad from Faizabad were totally baseless.
He said the federal government had failed to control rampages, looting and killing incidents by protesters in Peshawar, Karachi, Islamabad and other parts of the country and now it should avoid levelling baseless allegations against others.