Daily Times

LAHORE: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday claimed that religious parties protesting in Islamabad had “contacted India”, adding that the government was probing into the matter.

Speaking to a private news channel, Iqbal said: “They are not simple people. We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. They have fired tear gas shells [at security forces], they also cut the fibre optic cables of cameras that were monitoring their protest.”

“The protesters had also ‘contacted India,’” said the interior minister.

“Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state.”

Read more: Islamabad sit-in: Operation ‘suspended’ as thousands of violent protesters take over streets

The interior minister said that the government was acting on the Islamabad High Court’s orders.

“Our administration is acting on the court’s orders and we are completely supporting them,” he said.

“We have made all peaceful efforts, but we are forced to act as the group has not budged. These people do not know that anti-Pakistan elements are using this to spread malice against Pakistan.”

“We are trying to clear the area with minimum violence, but we also need to ensure the fundamental rights of people of twin cities,” he asserted.

“We are all Muslims and believe in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat. There is no threat to Khatm-e-Nabuwwat,” he asserted.

“The Parliament is there to safeguard the Constitution. The Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath has become more effective than before,” he observed. “The last thing Pakistan needs is the instigation of agitation using people’s religious sentiment.”

“If you want to do your politics, do it, but why are you using this issue to incite hatred?” he questioned.