ISLAMABAD, APR 02 (DNA) -: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Khan, while addressing a press conference on Saturday, stated that there had been a general consensus that the demands of the pro-Qadri protestors, staging a sit-in at D-Chowk, were invalid.

“A few individuals were making wrong use of the notion of the finality of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) for personal political gain, and it was decided that the area had to be cleared promptly,” said the interior minister.

The interior minister added that the consensus had been achieved in a meeting with the prime minister.

“We decided on Monday to remove them with as little violence as possible. A few ministers raised the point that there should be negotiations with them, but the opinion of an overwhelming majority of the leadership decided that they should be removed “, said Nisar.

Nisar explained the government decided to call in extra security forces Tuesday evening in order to have six personnel for each protestor, which reduced the risk of force being used due to the large number of security personnel present as they outnumbered the much smaller group of protestors.

“When a mob ─ yes, that was a mob ─ of 5,000 to 8,000 are gathered, no police force in the world can stop them without fatalities.”

Nisar conceded that there had been a lack of coordination between the provincial and capital authorities during the sit-in.

“The inquiry is ongoing as to why there was an administrative fallout.”

Addressing those who had gathered at D-Chowk, the Interior Minister criticised their destruction of public and private property and causing inconvenience to the public as contradictory to the Prophet’s (PBUH) example.

‘Criticism regarding Musharraf unfair’

The Interior Minister also addressed widespread criticism the government has received since former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf left the country for medical treatment abroad, complaining about accusations the present government is not serious regarding prosecuting the former president.

The minister read out clauses from Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Supreme Court’s (SC) observations, declaring that the government cannot impede Musharraf’s travel, and promised to present the complete “truth” from the court decisions on Monday.=DNA