Zee Media Bureau/ Neha Attre and Himanshu Kapoor
After refusing to hold talks with the Pakistani emissaries, Imran Khan while addressing the massive crowd that had gathered in Islamabad said that he is ready to lay down his life but will not budge from his demand of PM Sharif's resignation.
As cleric Qadri and Imran Khan demand that PM Nawaz Sharif steps down, the prime minister's daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif took a jib at the anti-government protesters and wrote on Twitter, "You can spend your whole life in the container but Nawaz Sharif will not resign."
As thousands of followers of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are demonstrating outside Parliament building, trying to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office, talks have begun between the Pakistani ministers and opposition politicians and anti-government protesters to bid to end a week-long political crisis that rattled the entire Pakistan.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that no dialogue with the government can be initiated unless the PM steps down.
PTI has now backtracked on negotiation with the government and is sticking with its demand for the resignation of the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that Imran Khan's PTI has agreed to negotiate with the government to find a way out of the crisis through dialogue.
Surrounded by his supporters, Qadri also evoked the memory of the 14 supporters of his party who were killed during the Model Town tragedy in Lahore.
The PAT chief, however, said that he doesn't agree with those who indulge in state terrorism in the name of democracy.
Addressing the media represntative, Qadri said that he never rejected the idea of talks with the government, adding that for them Parliament is regarded as sacred institution.
Pakistan's Supreme Court today ordered Imran Khan and Tahir ul-Qadri to appear in court after they called for of protests seeking Sharif's resignation.
Thousands of Pakistani protesters tried to blockade parliament on Wednesday after an anti-government cleric told them not to allow anyone in or out, with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inside at the time, but the lawmakers left by a back entrance, the Reuters reported.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahir ul-Qadri has reportedly asked his supporters to lay siege to the Parliament. The cleric further asked the supporters to maintain the sanctity of the National Assembly and not resort to indulge in violence and vandalism.
"Don't let all those inside come out and don't let anyone go in," the cleric, Qadri reportedly told his supporters.
PM reaches Parliament to attend National Assembly even as thousands of anti-government protesters remain outside seeking his resignation.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have said that the Parliament session will begin as scheduled despite the presence of thousands of PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters in the 'red zone'.
Pakistani Army has assured Sharif that there will be no coup and urged a meeting between him and the PTI chief.
Shortly after the tweet, Rafique denied having an account on microblogging website Twitter and denied making any statement on meeting between Sharif and PTI chief, according to a news report in Dawn.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has agreed to meet PTI chief Imran Khan, senior Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leader, Khawaja Saad Rafique tweeted in an account operated by Team PMLN.
Pakistan's powerful military called for talks today to resolve a week-long political drama as tens of thousands of protesters marched on Parliament in a bid to depose the Prime Minister, the AFP reported.
Imran Khan today tweeted that the “giant step” was taken for the sake of Pakistan's democracy.
Former cricketer Imran Khan has given a deadline of Wednesday evening to PM Nawaz Sharif to resign from the post.
US on Wednesday made an appeal to solve the differences through discussions and said that “all parties here should work together to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue in a way that strengthens Pakistan's democracy”.
Besieged Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been assured by the country's military there will be no coup, but in return he must "share space with the Army," the Reuters reported.
Also See: Protests against Pakistan government
However, protesters forced their way past barricades to enter the 'red zone' using cranes and bolt cutters to get past barricades and barbed wires even as the Army personnel looked on.
Army spokesperson Asim Bajwal tweeted that the buildings in the 'red zone' were being protected by the Army and their sanctity should be respected.
Cleric Tahir ul-Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief marched into 'red zone' along with thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of PM. 'Red Zone' is referred to the area which houses government buildings including Parliament and the Prime Minister house.
Tens of thousands of Pakistan protesters reached Islamabad Parliament on Wednesday morning seeking resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan has been rocked by protests led by cleric Tahir ul-Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan who are seeking the resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif.
They claim that the General Elections held in the country last year were rigged.
While PML-N had registered a landslide victor by emerging victorious on 190 seats out of 342, Khan's PTI could only win 34 seats.
Qadri, who heads the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) or Peoples Movement, and Khan then made a call for 'Azadi' (independence) march to safeguard the democracy of the country.
First Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 08:50
