Islamabad is heating up. Imran Khan has threatened to storm the Prime Minister House if Nawaz Sharif does not resign. Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Tahirul Qadri has promised his followers that accountability would be ensured for the “corrupt” rulers.
The army has broken its silence and has publicly urged both the government and the protesting political parties to exercise restraint and find a way out of the crisis through dialogue.
Follow our live updates below.
6.10pm | Situation is precarious
Military analyst Ayesha Siddiqui warned that the situation was very precarious.
“From the military perspective, they have tried and tested Nawaz Sharif a third time and they feel disappointed. Why would they let him be?” she told AFP.
But Hamid Gul, the former head of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, said that despite the military’s differences with Sharif, he thought they were unwilling to get involved.
“They (Khan and Qadri) are trying to drag the army into it, to pull the army, but the army is very reluctant,” Gul told AFP, adding that the crisis would inevitably weaken Sharif.
“If Nawaz wants to stay in power he has ho choice” but to listen to the army, Gul said.
6:05pm | SMQ house attacked
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz supporters reached the Multan residence of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi to staged protests.
Workers reportedly banged their fists at his gate. A large contingent of policemen reached the spot and forced the protesters away from the gate of Qureshi’s house.
The protesters shouted slogans against the PTI leader and said that no one had the right to hurt the Parliament.
“What kind of doublespeak is this from the government? On one hand they are offering dialogue and on the other they are resorting to violence,” Qureshi said to a television channel.
6.00pm | Imran to address supporters
Imran Khan will deliver a speech to the participants of the Azadi march after Maghrib prayers, according to PTI leader Jahangir Tareen.
Tareen added that their party chief would take the nation into confidence before taking any more steps.
However, he said he cannot comment on the party’s willingness to enter negotiations with the government.
5:30pm | PAT workers end siege of PM Secretariat
Following negotiations between the Inspector General of Islamabad police and the PAT leadership, workers have started to disperse from outside the building.
The PAT workers had encircled the building on the call of Dr Qadri.
5.10 pm | PTI’s Punjab MPAs hand in resignations to Mehmoodur Rasheed
29 PTI MPAs have submitted their resignations to opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.
Rasheed will hand these over to party chief Imran Khan. — Arif Malik reported from Lahore
source: read more on dawn.com
Tags: imran khan party, Latest Politics news, Pakistani politics, PAT, PIT, Politics, PTI Azadi March
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