ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that some elements wanted to topple the government by manipulating the rallies against the anti-Islam movie.

Talking to media here Sunday, Rehman Malik said that every true Muslim has right to protest against blasphemous movie but plundering and looting on Ishq-e-Rasool Day was against the true spirit of Islam and unacceptable.
He said that the government had deployed forces on important points to keep the law and order situation under control. While expressing his lamentation over looting and plundering in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, he said that law enforcing agencies tired their best to keep law and order but “terrorists” compelled them to use force.
“We have gathered the information on scientific lines that security forces remained calm and composed during the protests and the aggression was started by some protesters.” Malik said that members of banned outfits also came in the field during protest rallies and they had their own agenda.
Claiming that some protests were engineered, he criticised the Punjab government saying that it failed to fulfil its responsibilities. He said he had proof that Punjab administration indulged in wilful negligence and allowed protesters to enter Islamabad.
He appealed to the national leadership to realise the gravity of the situation and not encourage the enemies of the country. It should be clear to everyone that Pakistan can become strong, stable and responsible state only with the rule of law, or it would be pushed towards civil war.
“Pakistan is a responsible state and we are bound to provide security to foreign diplomats in accordance with the international law,” he the minister said. He said that the destructive elements had nothing to do with the prestige of the Prophet (PBUH); rather their motto was looting and plundering the public property in order to satisfy their personal greed.
Malik said holiday on Friday to observe Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool was announced to show solidarity and integrity to the world and send a message that we are united on the issue. Defending the decision to declare Friday a holiday he said had it been a working day there would have much more damage.
He said terrorists wanted to turn Pakistan into Afghanistan through their nefarious designs but they must keep in mind that their Machiavellian tactics would be foiled with an iron hand. He said that terrorists wanted to take the government hostage but they had to face defeat. “Some elements want to ignite terror and horror in the name of religion. It is undoubtedly against the true spirit of Islam which gives lesson of peace, love for humanity regardless of caste, creed and colour.”