Islamabad: Pakistan opposition leader Imran Khan on Wednesday threatened to storm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence with thousands of his supporters while cleric Tahirul Qadri asked protesters to encircle the Parliament, even as the powerful army warned that the sanctity of key buildings in the heart of the capital be respected.
Under pressure from the call by protesters, Prime Minister Sharif on Wednesday decided to meet Khan in an effort to end the anti-government protests seeking his ouster. "It has been decided PM (Sharif) will meet Imran Khan for the sake of country," Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, a close aide of Prime Minister Sharif, tweeted.
Rafique did not give the time for meeting.
However, Khan maintained his aggressive stance, tweeting,"Tonite we will celebrate Azadi at D Chowk (inside the Red Zone where the Parliament House, Prime Minister House, President House, the Supreme Court besides embassies of various countries are located)."
"I want all Pakistanis 2 get here breaking all barriers. Warning police 2 release r ppl or v will punish them 4 unlawfully detaining r ppl," the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief tweeted.
His remarks came even as PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Dawn News that the party had agreed to negotiate with the government.
"We discussed amongst ourselves that if it comes to talks what our position will be... The aim is to come out of this deadlock. We wish that the govt had seriously considered our demands," Qureshi said.
"Our strategy is clear, we want to strengthen democracy and not derail it as opposed to the impression that is being given," he said.
PTI's media advisor Faisal Vawda said the party's six demands to the government included the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, electoral reforms, disbanding and reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan, recounts on certain constituencies, action against those involved in rigging and re-elections.
As the drama in the capital unfolded, the session of Pakistan's lower house of parliament, attended by Sharif, was held.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Qadri ordered his workers and supporters to surround the Parliament after all the legislators have entered the building so that none could leave before Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf resigns.
The military has said the buildings in the Red Zone are symbols of state and being protected by army, so the sanctity of these national symbols must be respected.
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