PESHAWAR, Sept 21: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will conduct judicial inquiry into Friday’s riots, which caused widespread damage to public life and property in Peshawar.

“We will carry out independent investigation into riots to expose the third party, who instigated youngsters to damage public and private properties in the name of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),” information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Dawn on Friday.

He said the government knew that a ‘third party’ exploited the situation to fulfill its nefarious designs and that it would conduct judicial inquiry to expose elements, who sabotaged security plan.

He said the ‘third party’ could be in the guise of political workers, miscreants or even police.

“Let the judicial inquiry begin and find out who are responsible for the worst riots in the city,” he said.

About security arrangements, the minister said the Peshawar administration had taken all possible security steps and that all sensitive places were fully protected and roads were blocked with containers but even then, the situation turned violent.

“Sometimes it becomes very difficult for law-enforcement agencies to control emotionally-charged crowds over a sensitive issue,” he said.

Mr Hussain said protesters were so charged that police had to stay away from acting against them.

He said Peshawar had already suffered due to militancy and terrorism and the strike provided opportunity to terrorists to accomplish their objectives in the name of Namos-i-Risalat.

He said some people were armed, who exchanged fire with police injuring several policemen.

“Militancy has caused huge damage to Peshawar city but Friday’s riots were the worst of its kind as they hugely damaged public and private properties,” he said.

The minister said it was the joint responsibility of the government, political parties and other civil society groups to hold peaceful protest rallies and meetings to convey their message to the west in a civilised way.

“These elements tried to tarnish image of Pakistan and Muslims across the world by damaging own properties,” he said, adding that what had happened in Peshawar and other parts of the country was in fact negation of the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

He said the provincial government had already registered protest against production of the blasphemous film, while the federal government had declared that the day would be observed to express love with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

He said after that, there was no need to instigate people and begin violence.

About future line of action, the minister said the government would fulfill its responsibilities to protect public life and property.

“Enough is enough. Friday was the last day for protest and the government will not allow anybody to take law in their own hands and destroy property on Saturday,” he said.

He said he was hopeful that there would be peace in Peshawar.

“Security will be beefed up in the city. Police will maintain law and order,” he said.